If you describe something or someone as extraordinary, you mean that they have some extremely good or special quality.
[approval]
We've made extraordinary progress as a society in that regard.
The task requires extraordinary patience and endurance.
Rozhdestvensky is an extraordinary musician.
Synonyms: remarkable, special, wonderful, outstanding More Synonyms of extraordinary
extraordinarily (ɪkstrɔːʳdənrɪli, US -nerɪli)adverb [ADVERB adjective]
She's extraordinarily disciplined.
2. adjective
If you describe something as extraordinary, you mean that it is very unusual or surprising.
[emphasis]
What an extraordinary thing to happen!
His decision to hold talks is extraordinary because it could mean the real end ofthe war.
Synonyms: unusual, surprising, odd, strange More Synonyms of extraordinary
extraordinarilyadverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb]
Apart from the hair, he looked extraordinarily unchanged.
Extraordinarily, the favourites for the title lie at the bottom of the table.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
An extraordinary meeting is arranged specially to deal with a particular situation or problem, rather than happening regularly.
[formal]
...at an extraordinary meeting of the sport's ruling body.
Representatives of the colonies met in an extraordinary congress.
extraordinary in British English
(ɪkˈstrɔːdənrɪ, -dənərɪ)
adjective
1.
very unusual, remarkable, or surprising
2.
not in an established manner, course, or order
3.
employed for particular events or purposes
4. (usually postpositive)
(of an official, etc) additional or subordinate to the usual one
a minister extraordinary
Derived forms
extraordinarily (exˈtraordinarily)
adverb
extraordinariness (exˈtraordinariness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin extraordinārius beyond what is usual; see ordinary
extraordinary in American English
(ɛkˈstrɔrdənˌɛri; ɪkˈstrɔrdənˌɛri; ɛkˈstrɔrdəˌnɛri; ɪkˈstrɔrdəˌnɛri; also ˌ ɛkstrəˈɔrdənˌɛri; ˌɛkstrəˈɔrdəˌnɛri)
adjective
1.
not according to the usual custom or regular plan
an extraordinary session of Congress
2.
going far beyond the ordinary degree, measure, limit, etc.; very unusual; exceptional; remarkable
3.
outside the regular staff; sent on a special errand; having special authority or responsibility
a minister extraordinary
Derived forms
extraordinarily (extraˈordiˌnarily)
adverb
extraordinariness (extraˈordiˌnariness)
noun
Word origin
ME extraordinari < L extraordinarius < extra ordinem, out of the usual order < extra + acc. of ordo, order
extraordinary in Accounting
(ɪkstrɔrdənɛri)
adjective
(Accounting: Basic)
If you describe something as extraordinary, you mean that it is very unusual or infrequent.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ cost~ expenses~ income~ item
Profit after tax and minority interests but before extraordinary items rose nearly 7 percent to $69.2 million.
The company will report net income for the year ended June 30 of 85 cents a share,including extraordinary income of 10 cents a share from an accounting change.
If you describe something as extraordinary, you mean that it is very unusual or infrequent.
Examples of 'extraordinary' in a sentence
extraordinary
We, who were the blessed fruit of such an extraordinary tree.
Clive Barker GALILEE (2001)
Now she put her arms around his neck, and let out a most extraordinary sigh: a sound of complete abandonment.
Clive Barker COLDHEART CANYON (2001)
For a slight man, he radiated extraordinary physical presence.
Mark Burnell CHAMELEON (2001)
Now, she was professionally wedded to Alexander and the extraordinary hours he kept.
Mark Burnell THE RHYTHM SECTION (2001)
In other languages
extraordinary
British English: extraordinary /ɪkˈstrɔːdnrɪ; -dnərɪ/ ADJECTIVE
An extraordinary person or thing has some extremely good or special quality.
...an extraordinary musician.
American English: extraordinary
Arabic: اِسْتِثْنَائِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: extraordinário
Chinese: 非凡的
Croatian: izvanredan
Czech: mimořádný
Danish: ekstraordinær
Dutch: buitengewoon
European Spanish: extraordinario raro
Finnish: erikoislaatuinen
French: extraordinaire
German: außerordentlich
Greek: έκτακτος
Italian: straordinario
Japanese: 異常な
Korean: 비범한
Norwegian: usedvanlig
Polish: nadzwyczajny
European Portuguese: extraordinário
Romanian: extraordinar
Russian: выдающийся
Latin American Spanish: extraordinario
Swedish: utomordentlig
Thai: ผิดธรรมดา
Turkish: olağanüstü
Ukrainian: надзвичайний
Vietnamese: phi thường
All related terms of 'extraordinary'
extraordinary ray
the plane-polarized ray of light that does not obey the laws of refraction in a doubly refracting crystal
ambassador extraordinary
a diplomatic minister of the highest rank sent on a special mission
extraordinary rendition
the process by which a country seizes a person assumed to be involved in terrorist activity and then transports him or her for interrogation to a country where due process of law is unlikely to be respected
extraordinary general meeting
a meeting specially called to discuss a particular item of a company's business , usually one of some importance . The meeting may be called by a group of shareholders or by the directors
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an ambassador and a minister resident
EGM
extraordinary general meeting
envoy
An envoy is someone who is sent as a representative from one government or political group to another.
Chinese translation of 'extraordinary'
extraordinary
(ɪksˈtrɔːdnrɪ)
adj
(= exceptional) 非凡的 (fēifán de)
(frm)[meeting]特别(別)的 (tèbié de)
the extraordinary thing is that ... 令人惊(驚)奇的是 ... (lìngrén jīngqí de shì ... )
1 (adjective)
Definition
having some special or extreme quality
He is an extraordinary musician.
Synonyms
remarkable
special
I usually reserve these outfits for special occasions.
wonderful
This is a wonderful achievement for one so young.
outstanding
an outstanding tennis player
rare
amazing
It's amazing what we can remember with a little prompting.
fantastic (informal)
I have a fantastic social life.
astonishing
marvellous
He certainly is a marvellous actor.
eye-popping (informal)
exceptional
The courts hold that this case is exceptional.
notable
The most notable architectural feature of the town is its castle.
serious (informal)
phenomenal
a phenomenal performance
singular
a smile of singular sweetness
wondrous (archaic, literary)
a wondrous vast land of lakes and forests
out of this world (informal)
The food in this place is simply out of this world.
extremely good
Opposites
ordinary
,
commonplace
,
unremarkable
,
unexceptional
2 (adjective)
Definition
very unusual or surprising
What an extraordinary thing to happen!
Synonyms
unusual
rare and unusual plants
surprising
A surprising number of customers order the same sandwich each day.
odd
Something odd began to happen.
strange
There was something strange about the flickering blue light.
unique
remarkable
He was a remarkable man.
bizarre
That book you lent me is really bizarre.
curious
A lot of curious things have happened here in the past few weeks.
weird
I don't like that guy – he's really weird.
unprecedented
The scheme has been hailed as an unprecedented success.
peculiar
She has a very peculiar sense of humour.
unfamiliar
She grew many plants that were unfamiliar to me.
uncommon
Both are blessed with an uncommon ability to fix things.
unheard-of
It was unheard-of for someone so young to become a Member of Parliament.
unwonted
He replied with unwonted irritation.
Opposites
common
,
usual
,
ordinary
,
everyday
,
customary
,
commonplace
,
banal
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amazing
It's amazing what we can remember with a little prompting.
Synonyms
astonishing,
striking,
surprising,
brilliant,
stunning,
impressive,
overwhelming,
staggering,
sensational (informal),
bewildering,
eye-popping (informal),
breathtaking,
astounding,
eye-opening,
wondrous (archaic, literary),
mind-boggling,
jaw-dropping,
stupefying,
gee-whizz (slang),
startling
in the sense of bizarre
Definition
odd or unusual, esp. in an interesting or amusing way
That book you lent me is really bizarre.
Synonyms
strange,
odd,
unusual,
out there (slang),
extraordinary,
fantastic,
curious,
weird,
way-out (informal),
peculiar,
eccentric,
abnormal,
ludicrous,
queer (archaic),
irregular,
rum (British, slang),
uncommon,
singular,
grotesque,
perplexing,
uncanny,
mystifying,
off-the-wall (slang),
outlandish,
comical,
oddball (informal),
off the rails,
zany,
unaccountable,
off-beat,
left-field (informal),
freakish,
wacky (informal),
wacko (slang, old-fashioned),
outré,
cockamamie (slang, US),
daggy (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of curious
Definition
unusual or peculiar
A lot of curious things have happened here in the past few weeks.