Words / A2

ORDNR-ee/ˈɔːdnri/

Ordinary means normal, not special: an ordinary day, ordinary people, nothing out of the ordinary. Normal is close; ordinary often stresses “not fancy.” Extraordinary is the opposite. Average can sound like numbers or “not very good.” Do not use ordinary for “ugly” — it is not an insult, just not special.

Meaning

Normal; not special or unusual.

Examples

• “It was just an ordinary day at school.”
• “Wear ordinary clothes; it is not a formal party.”
• “It looked like an ordinary envelope.”

Good to know

an ordinary + noun. Opposite: extraordinary / special. Close: normal.

Near in meaning

normal

New