adjective
exotic
ig-ZAH-tik/ɪɡˈzɑːtɪk/
Strikingly different from what is familiar, especially because of a foreign origin.
The tropical plant looks exotic beside the snowy garden outside.
Etymology
Greek exotikos meant “foreign,” literally “from the outside.” The idea of belonging to another country developed into the sense of being strikingly unfamiliar or unusual.
In context
generally an exotic pet is one that is rare unusual or a wild animal not typically kept by humans
More examples
- She admired the plant’s exotic appearance.
- The travel poster promised exotic scenery.
- What seemed exotic to him was ordinary to her.
Forms
exotic
exotically adverb — in a strikingly unfamiliar way
Similar words
- unfamiliar
- Not well known to the observer.
- foreign
- From another country, without necessarily being striking.