uncommon
Uncommon (adj) means not often found or seen; rare. Example: “It's uncommon to see snow this far south.”
How to use uncommon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot something you see very often — either literally rare, or unusually impressive.
Word forms
more uncommon comparative, uncommoner comparative, most uncommon superlative, uncommonest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It's _____ to see snow this far south.
Etymology
From un- + common.
Synonyms
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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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