uncommon
gb/ʌŋkˈɑmən/ us/ʌŋkˈɑmən/
B2
English
~ 5600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
not common; infrequent or rare
Not happening or not found very often.
Usage pattern:
[something] is uncommon
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "uncommon" with "strange" or "weird". "Uncommon" mainly means that something does not happen often; it is about frequency, not necessarily about being strange. Another common confusion is with the phrase "not uncommon": it means "fairly common" or "quite common", not "rare". The two negatives cancel out in meaning, but the phrase sounds more careful or formal.
Synonyms
rare (Often suggests very low frequency and can imply special value or interest.)
|
infrequent (More formal and technical; focuses on low frequency without emotional color.)
|
unusual (Highlights being different from normal; can suggest strangeness, not just low frequency.)
Antonyms
common (Describes something that happens often or is easily found.)
|
widespread (Emphasizes that something exists in many places or among many people.)
Collocations
relatively uncommon
|fairly uncommon
|uncommon disease
|uncommon name
|it is uncommon for [someone] to [verb]
|not uncommon
Themes
frequency
|description
|general
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Food allergies are not uncommon among young children.
- It's uncommon to see this bird in urban areas.
- Such severe side effects are relatively uncommon.
- The surname is uncommon outside of this region.
- Major earthquakes are uncommon, but they do happen.
Learner examples
- It is uncommon to have snow in this city.
- That animal is uncommon in this country.
- Serious problems are uncommon with this medicine.
- This word is uncommon in everyday speech.
- Long power cuts are uncommon here.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
remarkably unusual and impressive
Unusual in a strong and special way, often very good or very strong.
Usage pattern:
uncommon [quality]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is always negative because "unusual" can sound negative. In this sense, "uncommon" is usually positive and often appears before abstract nouns like "courage", "talent", or "kindness" in more formal or written English.
Synonyms
extraordinary (Stronger and more emphatic; clearly beyond what is normal.)
|
remarkable (Stresses that something is worth notice or comment; often positive.)
|
exceptional (Focuses on being much better or stronger than usual, especially for abilities or qualities.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Describes something normal and not special or impressive.)
|
run-of-the-mill (Informal; emphasizes being very average and not at all special.)
Collocations
uncommon courage
|uncommon strength
|uncommon talent
|uncommon beauty
|uncommon kindness
Themes
evaluation
|people
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She showed uncommon courage in speaking out against the policy.
- The team succeeded through uncommon dedication and hard work.
- His essay displayed an uncommon insight into human behavior.
- We were treated with uncommon kindness during our stay.
- The painting has an uncommon beauty that is hard to describe.
Learner examples
- The doctor had uncommon patience with her patients.
- He is a leader of uncommon talent.
- They thanked her for her uncommon kindness.
- The player has uncommon speed for his size.
- She has an uncommon ability to stay calm.
Grammar
Expressions
not uncommon
1/nˈɑt ʌŋkˈɑmən/
fixed phrase
formal
happening quite often
Happening or seen quite often, even though the words look like it means the opposite.
Examples
- In big cities, it is not uncommon to see people working late into the night.
- It is not uncommon for beginners to make this kind of mistake.
- Such delays are not uncommon during the holiday season.
uncommon sense
1/ʌŋkˈɑmən sˈɛns/
idiom
informal
very good practical judgement
A joking or clever way to say someone has very good, clear, practical thinking, which most people do not seem to have.
Examples
- What she did wasn't luck; it was uncommon sense.
- He may be young, but he shows an uncommon sense about money.
- The book argues that uncommon sense is more useful than a high IQ.