unprecedented

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unprecedented' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means “unmatched or unparalleled in the history of a particular thing.” You can use it to describe situations that are not just rare, but that have never happened before. For example: "The growth of online shopping during the pandemic is unprecedented; for the first time in history, people are doing more of their shopping online than in stores."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This was during a period of high intensity, with an unprecedented number of arrivals and an increased number of people presenting with a range of significant, complex medical conditions".

The Guardian

The results were released after Jim Murphy, the Scottish Labour leader, insisted he still believed his party was able to close the unprecedented gap with the SNP.

The Guardian

Voters roundly rejected that ambition, with the Kurdish vote in particular swinging the election against the incumbents on an unprecedented scale.

The Guardian

He had also obtained a PhD in Islamic studies from the Islamic University of Baghdad, and would draw on both to legitimise his unprecedented claim to anoint himself caliph of the Islamic world in July 2014, which realised a sense of destiny evident in the prison yard a decade earlier.

The Guardian

So while British TV critics regularly – and often justifiably – lament that the best drama is made in America, UK series are now enjoying unprecedented success in the US.

The Guardian

The union's members there have already taken 24 days of industrial action against unprecedented plans to privatise all of the gallery's visitor services.

The Guardian - Arts

Michael Apted's Up series aside, it's an unprecedented piece of art, and emotionally rich enough to be deserving of multiple Oscars.

The Guardian - Film

An AEC press release blamed "unprecedented cold weather".

The Guardian - Film

This result gives Turkey's Kurds and the other voters who deserted the AKP and flocked to the HDP banner an unprecedented national platform from which to counter the neo-Islamist AKP's assault on Turkey's secular tradition, which has gathered pace in recent years.

The Guardian

During a special mass to mark the centenary of the mass killing, the pontiff referred to "three massive and unprecedented tragedies" of the past century.

The Guardian

The business leaders who have joined the B Team have committed to practise what they preach in their own businesses and will therefore come under an unprecedented spotlight.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unprecedented" to describe events that have truly never occurred before, not just those that are unusual or surprising. Ensure the context supports the claim of novelty.

Common error

Avoid using "unprecedented" to describe situations that are simply challenging or difficult. Reserve it for events that are genuinely without historical precedent, such as "an unprecedented surge in global temperatures".

Linguistic Context

The word "unprecedented" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something is novel and without prior example. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment and the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "unprecedented" is used to describe events or situations that have never occurred before, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's a versatile term frequently found in news, media, and formal business contexts, emphasizing the novelty and uniqueness of the subject it modifies. While grammatically correct and very common, it's important to reserve "unprecedented" for situations genuinely lacking historical precedent to avoid exaggeration. Alternatives like "unparalleled" or "novel" can be considered for similar but slightly different meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Without parallel

Focuses on the lack of comparison rather than the lack of prior occurrence.

Unparalleled

Underscores the absence of anything similar in scale or quality.

Never before seen

Emphasizes the visual novelty of something.

Hitherto unknown

Highlights the prior state of being unknown.

Exceptional

Indicates that something is outside of the norm, but not necessarily unique.

Extraordinary

Focuses on something being beyond what is ordinary or usual.

Groundbreaking

Implies innovation and setting a new standard.

Unheard of

Emphasizes the surprise or disbelief associated with something.

Novel

Highlights the newness and originality of something.

Remarkable

Emphasizes the noteworthiness of something.

FAQs

How can I use "unprecedented" in a sentence?

Use "unprecedented" to describe something that has never happened, existed, or been done before. For example: "The company experienced "unprecedented growth" this year."

What words are similar to "unprecedented"?

Alternatives include "unparalleled", "novel", or "groundbreaking". Choose the word that best fits the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "unprecedented" for something that is just very rare?

While "unprecedented" implies rarity, it should be reserved for situations that are truly without any prior instance. If something is merely rare, consider using "exceptional" or "unusual" instead.

What's the difference between "unprecedented" and "extraordinary"?

"Unprecedented" means never having occurred before, while "extraordinary" describes something that is very unusual or remarkable. Something can be extraordinary without being unprecedented, and vice versa.