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extraordinary

adjective
ex·​traor·​di·​nary | \ ik-ˈstrȯr-də-ˌner-ē How to pronounce extraordinary (audio) , ˌek-strə-ˈȯr-\

Definition of extraordinary

1a : going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary extraordinary powers
b : exceptional to a very marked extent extraordinary beauty
c of a financial transaction : nonrecurring
2 : employed for or sent on a special function or service an ambassador extraordinary
Other Words from extraordinary Synonyms & Antonyms What is the Difference Between extraordinary and extra ordinary? More Example Sentences Learn More about extraordinary

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Other Words from extraordinary

extraordinarily \ ik-​ˌstrȯr-​də-​ˈner-​ə-​lē How to pronounce extraordinarily (audio) , ˌek-​strə-​ˌȯr-​ \ adverb
extraordinariness \ ik-​ˈstrȯr-​də-​ˌner-​ē-​nəs How to pronounce extraordinariness (audio) , ˌek-​strə-​ˈȯr-​ \ noun

What is the Difference Between extraordinary and extra ordinary?

Prefixes can be tricky things, often carrying meanings that differ from what one might expect. Additionally, some prefixes are spelled like independent English words, yet may have meanings that are different from those words. Such is the case with the word extra and the prefix extra-.

The word extra is used as a noun, adjective, and an adverb. When used as a separate word, as in the sentence “It was an extra ordinary day,” “extra” is functioning as an adverb meaning “very.” An “extra ordinary day” is a day that is very ordinary. In contrast, the prefix extra- means “outside or beyond.” Attached to “ordinary,” in “It was an extraordinary day,” the meaning changes markedly, to “It was a day beyond ordinary.”

Examples of extraordinary in a Sentence

A polymer based on the elastic protein that enables fleas to perform their extraordinary jumping feats has been synthesized. The material … is, perhaps unsurprisingly, rubbery and highly resilient; indeed, some of its properties exceed those of a material used to make bouncy balls for the playground. — Rosamund Daw, Nature, 13 Oct. 2005 Jimi Hendrix is one of those extraordinary hubs of music where everybody lands at some point. Every musician passes through Hendrix International Airport eventually.  … He is the common denominator of every style of contemporary music. — John Mayer, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2004 Like the eighteenth-century Scots, whose similar borderland situation stimulated an extraordinary renaissance in letters, natural science, and social science, the Americans' ambivalent identities led them to the interstices of metropolitan thought where were found new views and new approaches to the old. — Bernard Bailyn, To Begin the World Anew, 2003 Books can even have merits that are owed to their lack of literary quality: Agatha Christie's whodunits display an extraordinary ingenuity in their plotting, but the beauty of the puzzle requires cardboard characters and total implausibility in motives and reasons. — Richard Jenkyns, New Republic, 28 Jan. 2002 The researchers made an extraordinary discovery. The race is an extraordinary event.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Even for veterans of Black Friday in the U.S., the scenes would have been extraordinary. — Author: Anna Fifield, Rachel Siegel, Anchorage Daily News, "Shoves, brawls and shouts: Welcome to Costco’s opening day in China," 2 Sep. 2019 Even for veterans of Black Friday in the United States, the scenes would have been extraordinary. — Washington Post, "Shoves, brawls and shouts: Welcome to Costco’s Opening Day in China," 29 Aug. 2019 Nana's handmade Halloween costumes were extraordinary. — courant.com, "Nancy Henry," 28 Aug. 2019 And being able to disseminate that information, that knowledge, in way that is empowering and meaningful to all demographics is extraordinary. — Georgia Frances King, Quartz, "Proof of a successful life isn’t fame—it’s getting something done," 22 Aug. 2019 Including Mr Smith, FedEx’s ten top executives average more than three decades at the firm, which is extraordinary. — The Economist, "FedEx’s visionary founder is a disrupter at risk of disruption," 15 Aug. 2019 The woman’s strength and resilience are extraordinary. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Honeyland Is a Stinging Allegory for Man-Made Disaster," 9 Aug. 2019 At first, Justin is reluctant to help: The burden of proof to clear Brian’s name is extraordinary, and Justin has seen the system fail too many times. — Alan Zilberman, Twin Cities, "‘Brian Banks’ tells the powerful true story of a man falsely accused of rape," 8 Aug. 2019 At first, Justin is reluctant to help: The burden of proof to clear Brian's name is extraordinary, and Justin has seen the system fail too many times. — Alan Zilberman, Houston Chronicle, "Powerful true story comes to life in ‘Brian Banks’," 7 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extraordinary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of extraordinary

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for extraordinary

Middle English extraordinarie, from Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem out of course, from extra + ordinem, accusative of ordin-, ordo order

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More Definitions for extraordinary

extraordinary

adjective
How to pronounce extraordinary (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of extraordinary

: very unusual : very different from what is normal or ordinary
: extremely good or impressive

See the full definition for extraordinary in the English Language Learners Dictionary

extraordinary

adjective
ex·​traor·​di·​nary | \ ik-ˈstrȯr-də-ˌner-ē How to pronounce extraordinary (audio) , ˌek-strə-ˈȯr-\

Kids Definition of extraordinary

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