What does extraordinary mean?
Extraordinary is an adjective describing something that goes well beyond the ordinary — unusual, remarkable, or exceptional in degree or quality. It can praise an achievement ('an extraordinary performance'), express surprise at an event ('an extraordinary turn of events'), or, more neutrally, signal something outside the normal course of affairs, as in an 'extraordinary session' of a legislature or an 'extraordinary measure' taken in a crisis. The word carries strong connotations of admiration and intensity in everyday speech and writing, making it one of the most versatile intensifiers in English. It derives from the Latin extraordinarius, formed from extra ('beyond') and ordinem ('order'), so at its root it literally means 'outside the order of things'. Its derived forms include the adverb extraordinarily and the noun extraordinariness.
Very unusual or remarkable; going beyond what is ordinary or expected.
"She has an extraordinary gift for languages."
In formal, legal, and ecclesiastical contexts it can also mean 'additional to or deviating from the usual', as in 'extraordinary session' or 'extraordinary minister'.
(Formal) Employed, convened, or occurring outside the ordinary or regular course.
"The ambassador was given extraordinary powers to negotiate the treaty."
This older, neutral sense survives mainly in diplomatic, legal, and religious terminology.
The Latin root of 'extraordinary' literally means 'beyond the ordinary' — and its original English sense wasn't 'amazing' at all, but simply 'additional', as in an 'extraordinary session' of parliament.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of extraordinary
Extraordinary entered English in the early 16th century from Latin extraordinarius, meaning 'out of the ordinary course', itself built on extra ('beyond, outside') and ordo/ordinem ('order, rank'). Its earliest English senses were administrative rather than admiring — referring to officials or sessions appointed outside the regular order — before the modern sense of 'remarkable, very unusual' became dominant. It shares its Latin roots with words such as 'ordinary', 'coordinate', and 'subordinate', all built on ordo.
Related word forms
How extraordinary is actually used
Common in both formal and informal registers. In everyday use it is strongly positive or intensifying ('extraordinary talent'), though in legal, ecclesiastical, and diplomatic contexts it retains the older neutral sense of 'additional' or 'outside the ordinary course' (e.g. 'extraordinary rendition'). The pronunciation with four syllables (/ɪkˈstrɔːdənri/, British) and five syllables (/ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri/, US) are both standard.
Easily confused with extraordinary
'Extraneous' means irrelevant or coming from outside, while 'extraordinary' means remarkable or beyond the ordinary — they share a Latin prefix but differ entirely in meaning.