extraordinary

[ ik-strawr-dn-er-ee, ek-struh-awr- ]
/ ɪkˈstrɔr dnˌɛr i, ˌɛk strəˈɔr- /

adjective

beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established: extraordinary costs.
exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy; remarkable: extraordinary speed; an extraordinary man.
(of an official, employee, etc.) outside of or additional to the ordinary staff; having a special, often temporary task or responsibility: minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

Origin of extraordinary

1425–75; late Middle English extraordinarie < Latin extrāordinārius beyond what is ordinary. See extra-, ordinary

OTHER WORDS FROM extraordinary

ex·traor·di·nar·i·ly [ik-strawr-dn-air-uh-lee, ek-struh-awr-] /ɪkˌstrɔr dnˈɛər ə li, ˌɛk strəˌɔr-/, adverb ex·traor·di·nar·i·ness, noun un·ex·traor·di·nar·y, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for extraordinary

British Dictionary definitions for extraordinary

extraordinary
/ (ɪkˈstrɔːdənrɪ, -dənərɪ) /

adjective

very unusual, remarkable, or surprising
not in an established manner, course, or order
employed for particular events or purposes
(usually postpositive) (of an official, etc) additional or subordinate to the usual one a minister extraordinary

Derived forms of extraordinary

extraordinarily, adverb extraordinariness, noun

Word Origin for extraordinary

C15: from Latin extraordinārius beyond what is usual; see ordinary