Extraordinary — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ik-ˈstrȯr-də-ˌner-ē/ ex·traor·di·nary

Meaning & Definition of Extraordinary

Extraordinary (adjective)

  1. going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary; specifically, of or relating to a proceeding or action not normally required by law
  2. exceptional to a very marked extent
  3. nonrecurring

Extraordinary (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being out of the ordinary

    "the marine is being cited for extraordinary courage"

    similar: aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, exceptional, extraordinaire, freak, odd, peculiar, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted
    related: conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking, bizarre, deviant, eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, strange, weird, incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable
    opposite: common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual
    near: everyday, familiar, frequent

  2. noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced

    "no one noticed anything extraordinary about the airline passenger"

    similar: curious, funny, odd, offbeat, out-of-the-way, peculiar, queer, rare, singular, strange, unaccustomed, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, weird
    related: bizarre, eccentric, far-out, kooky, oddball, outlandish, outré, way-out, aberrant, abnormal, atypical, exceptional, irregular, newsworthy, notable, noteworthy, noticeable, particular, remarkable, special
    opposite: common, ordinary, plain, usual
    near: unexceptional, expected, predictable, familiar, normal, regular, typical

Related Entry: Envoy (noun)

Envoy is a different word from Extraordinary. The synonyms below are for envoy, not for extraordinary.

  1. a person sent on a mission to represent another

    "the president sent the secretary of state as his personal envoy to gain the support of the country's allies"

    similar: agent, ambassador, delegate, emissary, legate, minister, representative
    related: ambassadress, attaché, chargé d'affaires, consul, deputy, diplomat, foreign minister, nuncio, procurator, proxy, apostle, evangelist, missionary, deputation, detachment, legation, courier, messenger, mouthpiece, spokesperson

  2. a person who acts or does business for another

    "one of the students was chosen as the club's envoy in meetings with the principal"

    similar: agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, factor, minister, procurator, proxy, rep, representative
    related: ambassador, diplomat, diplomatist, emissary, foreign minister, legate, plenipotentiary, alternate, backup, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, stand-in, sub, substitute, surrogate, understudy, informer, operative, spy, broker, distributor, manager, arbiter, arbitrator, comprador, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, liaison, mediator, middleman, peacemaker, mouthpiece, point man, point person, prophet, speaker, spokesman, spokesperson

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Extraordinary

The most common words with a similar meaning to Extraordinary:

aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, exceptional, extraordinaire, freak, odd, peculiar, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted, curious, funny, offbeat, out-of-the-way, queer, strange, unaccustomed, weird

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Extraordinary

Words with the opposite meaning of Extraordinary:

common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual, plain

Related Words for Extraordinary

conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking, bizarre, deviant, eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable, far-out, kooky, outré, way-out, irregular, newsworthy, noteworthy, particular, special

Near Antonyms of Extraordinary

everyday, familiar, frequent, expected, predictable, regular

Word Forms of Extraordinary

Derived words: extraordinarily (adverb), extraordinariness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Extraordinary

Middle English extraordinarie, from Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem out of course, from extra + ordinem, accusative of ordin-, ordo order

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Extraordinary

Words & Phrases Containing Extraordinary

extraordinary rendition

Frequently Asked Questions about Extraordinary

What does "Extraordinary" mean?

"Extraordinary" means going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary; specifically, of or relating to a proceeding or action not normally required by law. As an adjective, it is defined as: going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary; specifically, of or relating to a proceeding or action not normally required by law. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Extraordinary"?

Other words for "Extraordinary" include aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding and exceptional. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Extraordinary" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Extraordinary"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Extraordinary". Common alternatives include aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, exceptional, extraordinaire and freak.

What is the opposite of "Extraordinary"?

Antonyms of "Extraordinary" include common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary and usual. Near antonyms include everyday, familiar, frequent and expected.

How do you use "Extraordinary" in a sentence?

Examples of "Extraordinary" in a sentence: "the marine is being cited for extraordinary courage"; "no one noticed anything extraordinary about the airline passenger".

Is "Extraordinary" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Extraordinary" is an adjective.

Is "Extraordinary" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Extraordinary" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Extraordinary"?

"Extraordinary" is pronounced /ik-ˈstrȯr-də-ˌner-ē/ and divided into syllables as ex·traor·di·nary.