extraordinary
ihks-TRAWR-dihn-ree
Extraordinary (adj) means Very unusual or remarkable; far beyond what is normal. Example: “The rescue team showed extraordinary courage during the flood.”
adj
1
Very unusual or remarkable; far beyond what is normal.
"The rescue team showed extraordinary courage during the flood."
"It's an extraordinary story of survival against the odds."
"The magician's final trick was so extraordinary that nobody in the audience could explain it."
2
Special, arranged outside the usual routine or schedule.
"The club held an extraordinary meeting to vote on the sudden change."
"An extraordinary general meeting was arranged for the following Tuesday evening."
"Parliament was called into an extraordinary session to address the crisis."
How to use extraordinary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRemarkable, exceptional, way beyond ordinary — good or simply unusual.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
extraordinary talent
extraordinary circumstances
extraordinary session
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Word forms
- Plural
- extraordinaries
- Comparative
- more extraordinary
- Superlative
- most extraordinary
Fill the gap
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The rescue team showed _____ courage during the flood.
Etymology
From Latin extrā ōrdinem, "outside the [normal] order" — literally beyond the ordinary sequence of things.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for extraordinary
See all rhymes for extraordinary →Frequently asked questions
What does “extraordinary” mean?
The word “extraordinary” means very unusual or remarkable; far beyond what is normal. In plain terms, remarkable, exceptional, way beyond ordinary — good or simply unusual.
How do you pronounce “extraordinary”?
“Extraordinary” is pronounced ihks-TRAWR-dihn-ree (/ɪksˈtɹɔːrdɪn(ə)ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “extraordinary” in a sentence?
Here is “extraordinary” used in a sentence: “The rescue team showed extraordinary courage during the flood.”
What is another word for “extraordinary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “extraordinary” include exceptional, unparalleled, noteworthy, outstanding and extraordinate.
What is the opposite of “extraordinary”?
The opposite of “extraordinary” — its antonyms — are everyday, normal, ordinary, regular and usual.
What part of speech is “extraordinary”?
“Extraordinary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “extraordinary” come from?
The word “extraordinary” comes from Latin. From Latin extrā ōrdinem, "outside the [normal] order" — literally beyond the ordinary sequence of things.
Is “extraordinary” a common word?
“Extraordinary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between extraordinary and exceptional?
Both describe things far beyond the normal, but "exceptional" often points to unusually high quality or ability, as in "an exceptional student." "Extraordinary" stresses how remarkable or far outside the ordinary something is, and it can apply to strange or surprising things as well as excellent ones.
Is it spelled extraordinary or extrordinary?
The correct spelling is "extraordinary," formed from "extra" plus "ordinary," so it keeps both the "a" and the "o" in the middle. "Extrordinary" is a common misspelling.
What is the adverb form of extraordinary?
The adverb is "extraordinarily," as in "an extraordinarily difficult exam," where it means to a degree far beyond what is normal. It often works as an intensifier similar to "extremely."
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