Unfamiliar

/ˌʌn.fəˈmɪl.jər/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Not known or recognized; strange or foreign.

The city felt unfamiliar to her, as she had never visited before.

Not accustomed to or familiar with.

He was unfamiliar with the local customs and traditions.

Unknown or not easily identifiable.

I encountered an unfamiliar face in the crowd.

Out of one's comfort zone or normal experience.

It was an unfamiliar situation for her to be in a leadership role.

From the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' + 'familiar' from Latin 'familiaris'.

unfamiliar territory

A situation or environment that one is not accustomed to.

unfamiliar face

A person who is not known or recognized.

familiar

Known from long or close association.

acquaintance

A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

stranger

A person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance.

Out of your depth

When it comes to advanced calculus, I feel totally out of my depth.

In over your head

He got a new job in a field he's unfamiliar with and now feels he's in over his head.