[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/uncommon/)

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# uncommon

adjective (uncommon); adverb form: uncommonly

«uncommon» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Uncommon means not happening or seen often; rare or unusual. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#m1)
2. (old-fashioned) Uncommon can mean remarkable or very great, like «an uncommon talent». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science: uncommon animals, plants or diseases; in maths, uncommon events have a low probability. In everyday talk: «it's not uncommon» means it happens quite often. In stories it marks something special or surprising.

### Examples

- Snow is uncommon in Sydney. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#x1)
- It is not uncommon to feel nervous before a test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#x2)
- The uncommon bird was spotted by only a few people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#x3)
- Twins are less common than single babies, but not very uncommon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#x4)
- She has an uncommon gift for music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#x5)
- An uncommon name can be hard to spell. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#x6)
- He opened one and found a very uncommon herb in it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/#x7)

### Note

Opposite: «common». «Not uncommon» is a double negative meaning «fairly common». In maths, an uncommon event is unlikely, but it can still happen. Comparatives: «more uncommon», «most uncommon».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «uncommon» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/uncommon/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«uncommon» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/uncommon.html) on Mova free.