# unconventional

/ˌənkənˈvɛnʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnkənvˈɛnʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unconventional
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. not traditional

adjective · CEFR B2

different from what most people do or expect; not following the usual rules or traditions.

For teachers: not adhering to established custom, convention, or accepted social standards; often implies a deliberate choice to be original.

- The couple had an unconventional wedding in a forest instead of a church.
- The architect's unconventional use of recycled industrial materials challenged the city's traditional aesthetic standards and sparked a wider debate on sustainable design.

### 2. unusual or atypical

adjective · CEFR B2

unusual or not typical in a way that is interesting or surprising.

For teachers: deviating from the ordinary or typical; possessing qualities that distinguish it from the standard variety.

- She has an unconventional way of solving math problems that is very fast.
- The researcher adopted an unconventional methodology, combining qualitative interviews with large-scale data sets to uncover patterns that traditional studies had missed.

## Examples

- She has an unconventional way of solving math problems.
- The architect gained fame for using unconventional materials like recycled plastic and shipping containers in his designs.
- While his unconventional teaching methods initially drew criticism from the board, the students' significantly improved test scores eventually validated his creative approach to the curriculum.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.