What does outlandishness mean?
Outlandishness is the quality of being extremely strange, unconventional, or absurd. It is used for actions, claims, appearances, stories, and other features that depart conspicuously from ordinary expectations. The term often carries a mildly critical or humorous tone, but the disapproval is usually less severe than with words such as foolishness or insanity. For example, a story's outlandishness may make it entertaining, while the outlandishness of a political accusation may make it suspect. Although the word can describe conduct as well as qualities more generally, it remains an abstract noun rather than a description of a specific person. Outlandishness is related to the adjective outlandish and the adverb outlandishly. Together, these forms are useful for emphasizing behavior or ideas that are not merely unusual but strikingly excessive, unreasonable, or beyond accepted boundaries.
nounThe quality or character of being outlandish, especially of being extremely unconventional, unreasonable, or absurd.
- The quality of being extremely unconventional, unreasonable, or absurd.
- Outlandish behavior, conduct, or treatment.
"The sheer outlandishness of the allegation made it difficult for the committee to take it seriously."
"His outlandishness made him an unmistakable figure in the world of experimental theater."
"The museum rejected the proposal because of the outlandishness of its claims about the painting."
Rare and regular; the noun is ordinarily used in the singular or without a plural marker.
"The successive outlandishnesses of the performance kept the audience in delighted suspense."
Outlandishness grew out of “outland,” originally evoking things from beyond familiar territory before acquiring its modern sense of the strange and absurd.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outlandishness come from?
Outlandishness was formed by adding the suffix -ness to the adjective outlandish. Outlandish itself developed from outland, meaning a foreign or distant land, with the suffix -ish; its earliest uses referred to foreign or unfamiliar things. Over time, the adjective came to mean strange, unusual, or absurd, and the modern noun acquired its present sense from that established adjective.
How outlandishness is actually used
The noun is neutral to mildly disapproving and commonly suggests absurdity, exaggeration, or disregard for accepted conventions. It is usually treated as an uncountable noun, though the plural is occasionally possible.
Easily confused with outlandishness
Outlandishness emphasizes extreme unconventionality, strangeness, or absurdity, whereas outrageousness more often emphasizes offensiveness or shameful impropriety.