ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unfamiliar

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌənfəˈmɪɫjɝ// UK //ʌnfəmˈɪliə// un·fa·mil·iar

adj. describing something you do not know or recognize. You use this when you see or hear something for the first time.

adj. not known or recognized; not having knowledge or experience of a particular subject or place.


SIMPLE

The city felt strange because the streets were unfamiliar.

CONTEXTUAL

She felt nervous walking through the unfamiliar neighborhood at night without a map.

COMPLEX

The researcher struggled to interpret the data because the software used an unfamiliar algorithm that differed significantly from industry standards.

Antonyms
Origin

From un- + familiar.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'with' when describing a person's lack of knowledge.

Pitfall

I am unfamiliar of this systemI am unfamiliar with this systemWhen describing a lack of knowledge, the adjective takes the preposition 'with' rather than 'of'.

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