outlandish

/aʊ̯tˈlændɪʃ/

Group 29Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar; strikingly unconventional
GRE

Example in Context

The engineer's outlandish proposal, dismissed as fantasy when first presented, eventually proved to be the only viable solution to the infrastructure challenge.

Synonyms

bizarrestrangewild

Etymology

Something foreign and bizarre, like an alien in a tutu.

  • outland (Old English) — foreign

Memory Aid

👽Sounds like “out land dish

When a dish from OUTLAND is served, you gasp, 'What an OUTLANDISH meal!' as an alien chef flips pancakes!

Visual Association

👽An alien chef in a flamboyant outfit juggling bizarre food items in a foreign kitchen.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “outlandish” mean on the GRE?

outlandish (adjective) means “Looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar; strikingly unconventional”. The engineer's outlandish proposal, dismissed as fantasy when first presented, eventually proved to be the only viable solution to the infrastructure challenge.

How to remember “outlandish” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “outlandish” sounds like “out land dish”. When a dish from OUTLAND is served, you gasp, 'What an OUTLANDISH meal!' as an alien chef flips pancakes!

What are synonyms for “outlandish”?

Common synonyms: bizarre, strange, wild.