Definition

Not using the natural or expected phrases of a language, making it sound awkward or unnatural.

Example

His speech was unidiomatic, making it hard for the audience to understand him.

Conversation

I was reading your essay, and I noticed some phrases seemed a bit unidiomatic.

Really? I thought I was using some common expressions.

Yeah, some parts just didn't flow naturally; they felt a bit off.

I'll revise those sections and make sure they're more idiomatic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unidiomatic → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "idiomatic" (from Greek "idioma", meaning a peculiar phrase or expression). The word "unidiomatic" means not characteristic of a particular language or idiom, indicating a lack of naturalness in expression.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') being combined with a 'peculiar expression' ('idiomatic') to remember that 'unidiomatic' refers to something that does not fit the natural way of speaking.

Visually Confused Words