Extraordinary
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɪksˈtrÉ”Ë(r)dɪˌnÉ™rɪ/, ,
Origin
From Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem, "outside the order"; equivalent to - + ordinary.
Full definition of extraordinary
Adjective
extraordinary
- Not ordinary; exceptional; unusual;
- 1921, G. B. Shaw, S:As Far as Thought Can Reach: A.D. 31,920/§ ii, Everybody knew I was an extraordinary person. When I was born my beard was three feet long.
- 1978, S:Spanish Constitution of 1978/Part III, The Houses may meet in extraordinary sessions at the request of the Government, of the Permanent Deputation or of the overall majority of members of either of the two Houses. Extraordinary sessions must be convened with a specific agenda and shall be adjourned once this has been dealt with.
- 2011, October 23, Tom Fordyce, 2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France, Tony Woodcock's early try and a penalty from fourth-choice fly-half Stephen Donald were enough to see the All Blacks home in an extraordinary match that defied all pre-match predictions.
- 2013-06-08, The new masters and commanders, From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much.... But viewed from high up in one of the growing number of skyscrapers in Sri Lanka’s capital, it is clear that something extraordinary is happening: China is creating a shipping hub just 200 miles from India’s southern tip.
- 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".