1 unexpected, surprising or strange:
It's extraordinary that he managed to sleep through the party. * What an extraordinary thing to say! * The president took the extraordinary step of apologizing publicly for his behaviour!
2 not normal or ordinary; greater or better than usual:
an extraordinary achievement * She was a truly extraordinary woman. * They went to extraordinary lengths to explain their behaviour.
compareORDINARY
3 [onlybeforenoun] (formal) (of a meeting, etc.) arranged for a special purpose and happening in addition to what normally or regularly happens:
An extraordinary meeting was held to discuss the problem.
4 (following nouns) (technical) (of an official) employed for a special purpose in addition to the usual staff:
an envoy extraordinary
extraordinarily adverb:
He behaves extraordinarily for someone in his position. * extraordinarily difficult * She did extraordinarily well.
