extraordinary

ex·traor·di·nar·y

Use extraordinary in a sentence

adjective

The definition of extraordinary is something or someone that is unusual, exceptional or remarkable.

An example of extraordinary is a special session of the city council called by the mayor.
An example of extraordinary is the talent of an olympic skier.

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MLA Style

"extraordinary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/extrAordinary>.

APA Style

extraordinary. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/extrAordinary

extraordinary

not according to the usual custom or regular plan: an extraordinary session of Congress
going far beyond the ordinary degree, measure, limit, etc.; very unusual; exceptional; remarkable
outside the regular staff; sent on a special errand; having special authority or responsibility: a minister extraordinary

Origin of extraordinary

Middle English extraordinari from Classical Latin extraordinarius from extra ordinem, out of the usual order from extra + accusative of ordo, order

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"extraordinary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/extrAordinary>.

APA Style

extraordinary. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/extrAordinary

extraordinary

adjective

Beyond what is ordinary or usual: extraordinary authority.
Highly exceptional; remarkable: an extraordinary achievement.
Employed or used for a special service, function, or occasion: a minister extraordinary; an extraordinary professor.

Origin of extraordinary

Middle English extraordinarie from Latin extraōrdinārius extrā outside ; see extra- . ōrdō ōrdin- order ; see order .

Related Forms:

ex·traor′di·nar′i·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"extraordinary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/extrAordinary>.

APA Style

extraordinary. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/extrAordinary

Adjective

(comparative more extraordinary, superlative most extraordinary)

Not ordinary; exceptional; unusual;
Remarkably good.
an extraordinary poet

Usage notes

Can be said of all kinds of objects including people, events, things, and terms.
The pronunciation "extrordinary" is often preferred so as to avoid confusion with "extra ordinary", which would be defined as "more ordinary than usual".

Origin

From Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem, "outside the order"; equivalent to extra- +‎ ordinary.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.