unexpected
/ʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Not expected, anticipated or foreseen.
Adjective
Examples
She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid,[…]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “unexpected” mean?
Not expected, anticipated or foreseen.
Is “unexpected” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.