extraordinary

[ik-strawr-dn-er-ee, ek-struh-awr-]

adjective

1. beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established.

   extraordinary costs.

   Synonyms: inordinate
   Antonyms: usual, common

2. exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy; remarkable.

   extraordinary speed;

   an extraordinary man.

   Synonyms: signal, special, phenomenal, rare, singular, uncommon
   Antonyms: usual, common

3. (of an official, employee, etc.) outside of or additional to the ordinary staff; having a special, often temporary task or responsibility.

   minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

extraordinary

/ ɪkˈstrɔːdənrɪ, -dənərɪ /

adjective

1. very unusual, remarkable, or surprising

2. not in an established manner, course, or order

3. employed for particular events or purposes

4. (usually postpositive) (of an official, etc) additional or subordinate to the usual one

   a minister extraordinary

Other Word Forms

• extraordinarily adverb
• extraordinariness noun
• unextraordinary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extraordinary¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English extraordinarie, from Latin extrāordinārius “beyond ordinary,” equivalent to extra- + ordinary

Word History and Origins

Origin of extraordinary¹

C15: from Latin extraordinārius beyond what is usual; see _ordinary

Example Sentences

But Rayner's extraordinary rise to the apex of British politics with the Labour Party has culminated in an equally spectacular fall.

From BBC

The village was peopled with "extraordinary, eccentric, cosmopolitan people, defeated by life", some of whom would later reappear in her fiction.

From BBC

Armani expanded fashion to all aspects of life, his team said, “anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and pragmatism.”

From Los Angeles Times

Glasgow City Council's deputy leader Richard Bell, who previously called for the officials to return their pay-outs, said "quite extraordinary steps" had to be taken to establish what happened.

From BBC

But he said the Online Safety Act gave Ofcom "the most extraordinary and arbitrary powers" and that his party would repeal it, if elected to government.

From BBC

Related Words

• amazing 
• bizarre 
• curious 
• exceptional 
• fantastic 
• incredible 
• marvelous 
• odd 
• outstanding 
• particular 
• phenomenal 
• rare 
• remarkable 
• singular 
• special 
• strange 
• surprising 
• terrific 
• uncommon 
• unheard-of