uncharacteristic

/ˌʌnˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌnkˌɛrɪktɚˈɪstɪk] /ˌʌnˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌnkˌɛrɪktɚˈɪstɪk] /ˌən-ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-stik How to pronounce uncharacteristic (audio) -ˌka-rik-/ (ame, mw)

uncharacteristic — 形容詞

  • uncharacteristicpositive
  • more uncharacteristiccomparative
  • most uncharacteristicsuperlative

1. not matching the known pattern of how a particular person or thing usually acts

1.形容詞B2
釋義

反常的

不符合平日表現或特性的

not matching the known pattern of how a particular person or thing usually acts or appears — used when an action, quality, or event seems surprising because it does not fit what people normally expect

例句

Gabriel’s uncharacteristic silence at the meeting worried his colleagues.

Gabriel 在會議上反常的沉默讓同事們很擔心。

possessive + uncharacteristic + noun describing behavior

The warm sunny weather was uncharacteristic for December in northern Norway.

挪威北部十二月出現溫暖晴朗的天氣很不尋常。

uncharacteristic for [time/place]

同義詞
  • atypical

    more formal and factual; often used in statistics or clinical descriptions rather than everyday speech

  • unusual

    broader in meaning — describes anything uncommon, not necessarily a break from a known pattern

  • abnormal

    stronger negative connotation, suggesting something is wrong or unhealthy

  • out of character

    idiomatic phrase, used specifically about a person's behaviour not matching their personality

反義詞
  • characteristic

    the direct opposite — something that is typical of a person or thing

  • typical

    the most common antonym; describes behaviour or qualities that match expectations

用法筆記

Frequently followed by 'of' to name the person or thing whose usual qualities are being contrasted: uncharacteristic of [someone/something]. Also appears in the fixed phrase 'in an uncharacteristic move' before describing an action that surprises observers.

常見錯誤

❌Her anger was very uncharacteristic.
✅Her anger was uncharacteristic.
💡'uncharacteristic' already communicates a strong degree of deviation, so intensifiers like 'very' are redundant.
❌The weather is uncharacteristic in Taiwan.
✅The weather is uncharacteristic of Taiwan.
💡when specifying the person, place, or thing being contrasted, use 'of', not 'in'.