Commonness and Uniqueness: English Vocabulary List

very common or typical

"It is a garden-variety cold."

"The doctor said it was just a garden-variety cold and that the patient should rest drink fluids and wait for it to pass."

uncommon or not customary

"He showed unwonted kindness."

"The normally shy child showed unwonted confidence during the school play and her parents were amazed by her performance on stage."

having distinctive or peculiar habits, behaviors, or features that are unusual but often appealing

"She has a quirky sense of humor."

"The artist has a quirky sense of humor and his paintings often include strange creatures doing unusual things in everyday situations."

unconventional or unusual, often in an interesting way

"He has an offbeat style."

"The comedian's offbeat jokes about everyday life made the audience laugh because nobody had ever thought about those things in that way before."

departing from established customs, norms, or expectations

"His behavior is deviant."

"The psychologist studied deviant behavior in adolescents and he found that family relationships played a crucial role in preventing antisocial actions."

strikingly unusual in a way that goes beyond the usual bounds of taste or style

"Her outfit is outre."

"The fashion designer's outre creations shocked the audience at the show but some critics praised her for pushing the boundaries of style."

not in accordance with established traditions or conventional practices

"Her methods are unorthodox."

"The teacher used unorthodox methods to help her students learn including games music and role playing and the results were excellent."

widely accepted or popular among the general public

"His ideas are mainstream."

"While once considered radical, her views on environmental protection have now become widely accepted and mainstream."

widely acknowledged as valid or customary

"The rule is established."

"The established procedure for handling complaints required the manager to respond within twenty four hours."

happening infrequently

"Jobs are few and far between."

"Good job opportunities in this small town are few and far between for young people."