ORDINARY

Adjective8 lettersValid in our Scrabble word list
Unscramble ORDINARY

Quick definition

ORDINARY means regular, normal, or commonplace, lacking special or distinctive features, representing the typical or expected standard.

Is ORDINARY a valid Scrabble word?

Yes. ORDINARY is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 12 points in Scrabble, 12 in Words With Friends and 12 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.

LetterORDINARYTotal
Scrabble1121111412
Words With Friends1121211312
Wordfeud1121111412

Definition and meaning

ORDINARY describes something that is regular, normal, or commonplace - conforming to the expected standard without exceptional or distinctive qualities. It represents the baseline of everyday experience, neither remarkable nor unusual. While sometimes carrying negative connotations of being unremarkable, ordinary also represents stability, predictability, and the comfortable rhythms of daily life. The extraordinary is defined in contrast to the ordinary, making it a fundamental concept for understanding deviation and exception. Contexts of ordinary: Daily life: Routine activities and common experiences Standards: Meeting but not exceeding normal expectations Statistics: Falling within typical ranges Social: Conforming to common behaviors and norms

ORDINARY in a sentence

  • What seemed like an ordinary day turned extraordinary when she received the acceptance letter.
  • He preferred the ordinary comforts of home to exotic travel destinations.

Origin

The word ordinary comes from Latin ordinarius meaning "regular, usual, orderly," from ordo (genitive ordinis) meaning "row, rank, series, arrangement." It entered English in the 14th century through Old French ordinarie. Initially used in ecclesiastical contexts (ordinary clergy), it broadened to mean "common" by the 15th century. The sense of "plain, not special" developed in the 16th century. The noun form (meaning a tavern serving regular meals) is now largely obsolete.

Anagrams, hooks and words inside ORDINARY

Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of ORDINARY.

Hooks: no front hooks; no back hooks.

Words inside ORDINARY: 108 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: DAIRYDIARYRANDYRINDYYAIRDDORYDRAYIRONYRAINYRAYONRYNDYARD. See all words from ORDINARY.

Related words

Related Word Tools