Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective not typical, atypical, unusual

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective not representative of a group, class, or type

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Some unexpected, might be said "untypical", things happened, but that made it all the more typical. i am a staunch believer in the saying that "The only thing that doesn't change is change itself."

    coolnite dudemanflab 2002

  • But I know from hearing of the experiences of students in Cambridge, which can hardly be wholly untypical in this respect, that they have great difficulty as a consequence in making theological use of the Old Testament and, if they are ordinands, getting any idea of how it might be used in preaching or in the catechetical activity of the Church.

    Insight Scoop | The Ignatius Press Blog: 2009

  • His determination, to attire himself in items of clothing that were untypical for a chap of his stature was admirable.

    Malcolm Levene: Goodbye, Ken Russell... Malcolm Levene 2011

  • His determination, to attire himself in items of clothing that were untypical for a chap of his stature was admirable.

    Malcolm Levene: Goodbye, Ken Russell... Malcolm Levene 2011

  • His determination, to attire himself in items of clothing that were untypical for a chap of his stature was admirable.

    Malcolm Levene: Goodbye, Ken Russell... Malcolm Levene 2011

  • Actually, a not-untypical Chiapanecan breakfast might consist of a tamal with eggs in various styles accompanied by a spicy salsa cruda and a local cafe de olla which is really a large cup of coffee boiled and served hot with perhaps some cinnamon and sugar and while this is something of a local redneck tradition, it is a fine way to start the day.

    Tamal Nights, Brilliant Days 2009

  • Actually, a not-untypical Chiapanecan breakfast might consist of a tamal with eggs in various styles accompanied by a spicy salsa cruda and a local cafe de olla which is really a large cup of coffee boiled and served hot with perhaps some cinnamon and sugar and while this is something of a local redneck tradition, it is a fine way to start the day.

    Tamal Nights, Brilliant Days 2009

  • His determination, to attire himself in items of clothing that were untypical for a chap of his stature was admirable.

    Malcolm Levene: Goodbye, Ken Russell... Malcolm Levene 2011

  • But just so that you know what to expect, I would like to quote a sample passage that is not untypical in this treatise.

    How Important Is Ceremony? 2009

  • His determination, to attire himself in items of clothing that were untypical for a chap of his stature was admirable.

    Malcolm Levene: Goodbye, Ken Russell... Malcolm Levene 2011

Comments

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  • I need to know if there is supposed to be any difference between "atypical" and "untypical".

    November 23, 2009

  • Not typically.

    November 23, 2009

  • Pretty sure "untypical" isn't actually supposed to be a real word.

    November 23, 2009

  • "Untypical" is less common, but many dictionaries include it (I checked various volumes from Collins, Oxford, and Longman), it has a long history, and it's comprehensible to most English-speakers. Words with the negating "a-" prefix do tend to be problematic due to the variability of that word-initial morpheme, so it's possible that English-speakers would seek out an alternative synonym that is less ambiguous, or better, that they would repeatedly re-coin "un" plus "typical," since that is a construction that is logical and common in English morphology.

    November 24, 2009

  • Fancy that. And here we thought it was madeupical.

    November 24, 2009