unfamiliar
/ʌnfəˈmɪlɪə
/adjective
1Not known or recognized: he felt a stranger among the crowd of unfamiliar faces his voice was unfamiliar to her...
- In media, humans are not known to associate well with aliens or strange beings that seem unfamiliar to them.
- She looks forward to immersing herself in the life's work of many an author unfamiliar to her, and plans to read prodigiously.
- Being a teenager in Israel brings with it a reality unfamiliar to many adolescents in other countries.
Synonyms
unknown, new, strange, queer, foreign, alien, unheard of, beyond someone's ken
1.1Unusual or uncharacteristic: the yellow taxicab was an unfamiliar sight on these roads...
- She smiled at him, a smile that was unfamiliar, unusual, almost predatory.
- There is no suggestion that there was anything unusual or unfamiliar about that.
- The ubiquitous house sparrow may soon become an unfamiliar sight in the region the RSPB has warned.
Synonyms
unusual, uncommon, unconventional, novel, different, exotic, alternative, unorthodox, odd, peculiar, curious, atypical, uncharacteristic, unwonted, abnormal, anomalous, aberrant, out of the ordinary
2 (unfamiliar with) Not having knowledge or experience of: he seems unfamiliar with recent research on this topic...
- And many mature drivers are unfamiliar with legal requirement to wear a belt - front and rear.
- I was surprised that in a recent column you seemed unfamiliar with using mustard for leg cramps.
- This summary serves as a worthy initiation for any reader unfamiliar with the recent work done in this field.
Synonyms
unacquainted with, unused to, unaccustomed to, unconversant with, unpractised in, inexperienced in, unskilled in, unversed in, uninformed about, unenlightened about, ignorant of, uninitiated in, new to, fresh to, strange to, a stranger to, unaware of
informal in the dark about
rare nescient of