UNUSUAL means not ordinary, common, or normal; remarkably different from what is expected or typically encountered. The word comes from the prefix "un-" meaning "not" plus "usual" meaning "customary." In word games, UNUSUAL is valuable as a 7-letter word that can earn the 50-point bingo bonus, worth 7 base points in Scrabble.
Yes. UNUSUAL is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 7 points in Scrabble, 12 in Words With Friends and 10 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | U | N | U | S | U | A | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Words With Friends | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Wordfeud | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
UNUSUAL describes something that deviates from the norm, stands out from the ordinary, or occurs infrequently. It characterizes objects, events, behaviors, or phenomena that are remarkable, distinctive, or different from what is typically expected in a given context. The word carries a neutral connotation—something unusual can be positively unique or negatively aberrant, depending on the situation.
The concept of "unusual" is inherently relative and context-dependent. What seems unusual in one culture, time period, or situation may be perfectly normal in another. For instance, certain foods might be unusual in one region but commonplace in another, or behaviors that were unusual in previous generations might be normal today. This relativity makes "unusual" a dynamic and contextually sensitive descriptor.
In psychological and social contexts, unusual phenomena often capture attention and interest because human brains are naturally wired to notice patterns and deviations from those patterns. This attention to the unusual serves adaptive functions, helping individuals identify potential opportunities, threats, or important changes in their environment. The unusual often becomes memorable, influential, and worthy of investigation.
The word unusual is formed by combining the prefix "un-" (meaning "not") with "usual," creating a straightforward negation. "Usual" derives from the Late Latin "usualis," meaning "of or pertaining to use," which comes from "usus" (use, practice, custom). The Latin "usus" is the past participle of "uti," meaning "to use."
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of UNUSUAL.
Hooks: no front hooks; no back hooks.
Words inside UNUSUAL: 31 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: LUAUSLUNASULANSULNASUNAUSUSUALANUSLUAULUNASAULSULUULAN. See all words from UNUSUAL.