uncommon
uhn-KO-muhn
Uncommon (adj) means not often found or seen; rare. Example: “It's uncommon to see snow this far south.”
adj
1
Not often found or seen; rare.
"Bald eagles are an uncommon sighting in this state."
"This is not an uncommon practice."
— , The Why and The Wherefore: The Forth Bridge (1946)
"It's uncommon to see snow this far south."
2
Remarkable or exceptional in quality.
"The young pianist played with uncommon skill for someone her age."
"He showed uncommon kindness to the strangers who knocked at his door."
"She showed uncommon patience with the difficult customer."
"The diamond was of uncommon size"
How to use uncommon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot something you see very often — either literally rare, or unusually impressive.
Common pairings
uncommon for
uncommon patience
not uncommon
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more uncommon, uncommoner
- Superlative
- most uncommon, uncommonest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It's _____ to see snow this far south.
Etymology
From un- + common.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for uncommon
See all rhymes for uncommon →Frequently asked questions
What does “uncommon” mean?
The word “uncommon” means not often found or seen; rare. In plain terms, not something you see very often — either literally rare, or unusually impressive.
How do you pronounce “uncommon”?
“Uncommon” is pronounced uhn-KO-muhn (/ʌnˈkɒmən/ in IPA).
How do you use “uncommon” in a sentence?
Here is “uncommon” used in a sentence: “It's uncommon to see snow this far south.”
What is another word for “uncommon”?
Words with a similar meaning to “uncommon” include infrequent, raresome and scarce.
What part of speech is “uncommon”?
“Uncommon” is an adjective.
Is “uncommon” a common word?
“Uncommon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “uncommon” have?
“Uncommon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not often found or seen; rare.
What is the difference between "uncommon" and "rare"?
Both mean not often found, but "rare" usually suggests something is even harder to find and more valuable or remarkable than merely "uncommon." Something uncommon is simply not seen very often, while something rare is exceptionally scarce.
What is the difference between "uncommon" and "unique"?
"Uncommon" means not often found and can describe many things that are simply infrequent. "Unique" means being the only one of its kind, so something unique is one of a kind rather than just rare; the two should not be used interchangeably.
When does "uncommon" mean exceptional rather than rare?
Besides meaning rare, "uncommon" can mean remarkable or exceptional, as in "uncommon courage" or "uncommon skill." In this sense it praises something as unusually good rather than simply infrequent.
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