unconventional
Americanadjective
-
not conventional; not bound by or conforming to convention, rule, or precedent; free from conventionality.
an unconventional artist; an unconventional use of material.
- Synonyms:
- atypical, idiosyncratic, individualistic, eccentric
adjective
-
not conforming to accepted rules or standards
Other Word Forms
- unconventionalist noun
- unconventionality noun
- unconventionally adverb
Etymology
Origin of unconventional
First recorded in 1830–40; un- 1 + conventional
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While working on her doctorate at the University of Washington in Seattle, Mastick took an unconventional approach.
From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026
"It's willing to play unconventional diplomatic games, unlike India," Kugelman adds.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
The SpaceX IPO will be just as unconventional as Musk himself.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026
Elon Musk plans an unconventional IPO, including investor visits to SpaceX facilities and allocating as much as a third or more of shares to individual investors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
“Your son’s an unconventional sort of young man, Mrs. Rachpaul.”
From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.