What does unseasonably mean?
Unseasonably is an adverb meaning unusually or excessively for the season. It is most often used with weather, temperatures, and related conditions, as in “an unseasonably warm day” or “unseasonably heavy rain.” The word emphasizes a departure from what people normally expect at a particular time of year, although the departure need not be extreme in an absolute sense; it is simply inappropriate to the season or local climate. Because it can describe both unusually mild and unusually harsh conditions, it works across different climates and regions. The term is common in British and American English and has a neutral, descriptive tone, but it often suggests that conditions are surprising enough to be noteworthy. Unseasonably is also used more broadly for events or conditions that occur at an unusual time, such as an out-of-season flowering or an unseasonably early storm.
adverbIn a way that is unusually or excessively out of keeping with the season, especially with reference to weather or temperature.
- Unusually or excessively for the time of year, especially with reference to weather.
"An unseasonably warm afternoon brought people out onto the streets in coats."
"The region experienced unseasonably cold weather throughout the autumn."
"The singer apologized for cancelling the outdoor concert because of unseasonably heavy rain."
Sometimes the weather skips the calendar: an “unseasonably warm” day can make January feel like July.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How unseasonably is actually used
The word is neutral in tone but is used chiefly in meteorological contexts and other situations where conditions depart noticeably from seasonal expectations. It can also describe anything occurring at an atypical time relative to the usual season.
Easily confused with unseasonably
“Seasonably” means at a time or in conditions appropriate to the season, whereas “unseasonably” means abnormally for the season.