extraordinary
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.very unusual or strange in a way that attracts your attention.
adj.deviating from what is ordinary, usual, or expected; highly atypical.
Simple“It was an extraordinary coincidence that we both wore the same dress to the party.”
In context“The witness provided an extraordinary account of the events, describing details that seemed to defy the laws of physics.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.extremely good or impressive.
adj.surpassing the usual standards of excellence; exceptionally high in quality.
Simple“The young pianist gave an extraordinary performance that left the audience in tears.”
In context“Her extraordinary talent for diplomacy allowed the two nations to reach an agreement after years of stalemate.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.used to describe a person or meeting that is extra or has a special purpose.
adj.employed or convoked for a special purpose or in addition to the regular staff or schedule.
Simple“The company called an extraordinary meeting to discuss the sudden merger.”
In context“The board of directors convened an extraordinary general meeting to address the urgent liquidity crisis facing the firm.”
UsageOften follows the noun in official titles, such as 'Ambassador Extraordinary'.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.something that is not normal or ordinary.
n.that which lies outside the bounds of ordinary experience or occurrence.
Simple“In his stories, the extraordinary becomes part of everyday life.”
In context“The poet sought to find the extraordinary within the mundane, elevating simple daily tasks to the level of the divine.”
Usage extraordinary life
“Yet what makes it extraordinary is Belben’s ability to capture in words the slippery state that is neither dreaming nor sleeping nor waking, but somewhere in the edgelands between all three.”
“The Artemis astronauts have had an extraordinary experience, which they've already acknowledged will take a long time to fully absorb.”
From Latin extrāōrdinārius, from extrā ōrdinem (“outside the order”). By surface analysis, extra- + ordinary. Doublet of extraordinaire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.