uncommon

adjective

un·​com·​mon ˌən-ˈkä-mən How to pronounce uncommon (audio)
1
: not ordinarily encountered : unusual
an uncommon plant
2
: remarkable, exceptional
a soldier of uncommon courage
uncommonly adverb
uncommonness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for uncommon

infrequent, uncommon, scarce, rare, sporadic mean not common or abundant.

infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.

infrequent family visits

uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation.

smallpox is now uncommon in many countries

scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.

jobs were scarce during the Depression

rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value.

rare first editions

sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts.

sporadic cases of influenza

Examples of uncommon in a Sentence

It is not uncommon for people to become depressed after they retire. an athlete with uncommon ability a soldier of uncommon courage She is an uncommon woman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His defense rated oddly poorly last season (-16 defensive runs saved, zero outs above average), but year-to-year aberrations are not uncommon. Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 However, pay transparency is still uncommon, as many companies worry that disclosing salaries could trigger a wave of dissatisfaction and complaints among employees. Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Requests for long-ago favorites are not uncommon in Idea Alley, but fulfillment of those requests often is. Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Commentators have noted the importance of this sort of space in a place like India, where, despite a growing number of universities, multidisciplinary institutes are uncommon, and scientific output lags behind those of other large economies. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for uncommon 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncommon was circa 1576

Dictionary Entries Near uncommon

Cite this Entry

“Uncommon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncommon. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

uncommon

adjective
un·​com·​mon ˌən-ˈkäm-ən How to pronounce uncommon (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not ordinarily found or experienced : unusual
not uncommon to catch a cold
2
: extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional
has uncommon ability
uncommonly adverb
uncommonness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on uncommon

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