Outlandish is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /aʊtˈlændɪʃ/. The first four phonemes are "ow-t" followed by "lan-dish". The word means something that is strange or bizarre, particularly in terms of appearance or behavior. It originated from Middle English and was often used to refer to someone from a foreign land, particularly in a derogatory sense. The spelling is easy to remember, as it is a combination of "out" and "land" with the suffix "-ish" to indicate an adjective.
Outlandish is an adjective that refers to something that is peculiar, bizarre, or unfamiliar in appearance, behavior, or style. It describes something that is conspicuously different from what is considered normal, conventional, or customary. Outlandish can also imply that something is strikingly unusual in a way that may appear strange, eccentric, or even outrageous to others.
When applied to a person's appearance or clothing, outlandish suggests that their style or fashion choices are extravagant, flamboyant, or over-the-top, often drawing attention due to its peculiarity. For example, someone wearing a vibrant, mismatched outfit with unconventional accessories might be described as having an outlandish sense of fashion.
In terms of behavior, outlandish points to actions or attitudes that are considered odd, peculiar, or even ridiculous. It could include someone displaying bizarre habits, peculiar mannerisms, or engaging in unconventional practices that deviate significantly from societal norms.
Furthermore, outlandish can also be used figuratively to describe ideas, beliefs, or proposals that are unconventional, strange, or far-fetched. It denotes concepts or notions that are considered highly unlikely, impractical, or even absurd. For instance, an outlandish theory might propose an extremely unconventional explanation for a natural phenomenon or a seemingly impossible solution to a complex problem.
Overall, outlandish characterizes that which stands out due to its extraordinary and peculiar nature, whether it pertains to appearance, behavior, or ideas.
• Foreign; not native.
• Foreign; strange.
• Not native; foreign; vulgar; rude.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "outlandish" originated in Middle English from the combination of two separate elements: "outland" and the suffix "-ish".
The term "outland" itself has Old English roots, being a combination of "out" (meaning "beyond" or "outside") and "land" (meaning "territory" or "country"). "Outland" originally referred to a foreign or distant land, particularly one located beyond the borders of one's country or familiar territory.
The suffix "-ish" is a common English suffix that derived from Old English "-isc" or "-iscstān", both of which were used to form adjectives. "-ish" is used to denote characteristics such as belonging to, resembling, or having the nature or qualities of the base word.