Words / C1

un-PRES-id-ent-id/ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/

Unprecedented means never known or done before in the relevant history. Native journalists and academics use it for scale or novelty: unprecedented demand. Unique means one of a kind (and traditionally not “very unique”). Record-breaking is more sporting and numerical. Unexampled is rare and literary.

Meaning

Never known or done before.

Examples

• “The city faced unprecedented heat.”
• “The archive received an unprecedented number of requests in a week.”
• “Such cooperation between the two faculties was unprecedented.”

Good to know

unprecedented = never before (in that context). unique = one of a kind. weaker: unusual.

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