unorthodox
Americanadjective
-
not conforming to rules, traditions, or modes of conduct, as of a doctrine, religion, or philosophy; not orthodox.
an unorthodox ideology.
adjective
-
not conventional in belief, behaviour, custom, etc
Other Word Forms
- unorthodoxly adverb
Etymology
Origin of unorthodox
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.
Tuchel has spoken about Foden as an unorthodox deputy for captain Harry Kane as a central striker, but this would surely be too much of a stretch.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The filmmaker’s Fox Nation series on the lives of saints depicts Jesus’ mother in an intriguingly unorthodox style.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Movie buffs can bet on the official categories plus some unorthodox ones, such as whether host Conan O’Brien will say “artificial intelligence.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
They’re also convinced of their unorthodox methods, which hinge on reinforcement and reward.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
He’d limp out of the office, rubbing his ass, to provide updates on the 507th Maintenance Company mishap or the new POWs or the unorthodox guerrilla tactics being used by Iraq’s Elite Republican Guard.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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.