extraordinaire

adjective

ex·​traor·​di·​naire ik-ˌstrȯ(r)-də-ˈner How to pronounce extraordinaire (audio)
ek-
: extremely good or impressive : extraordinary
used following the noun it modifies
a chef extraordinaire
"Some of us get so carried away, our lives and gardens become inseparable," says plantsman extraordinaire and garden designer Michael Barclay.Sharon Cohoon et al.
Ms. Popcorn—marketing consultant, futurist, trend-spotter extraordinaire—was striking in black suede from head to toe …Suzanne Slesin
… an assistant football coach at the University of Texas and recruiter extraordinaireDouglas S. Looney

Examples of extraordinaire in a Sentence

the sort of chef extraordinaire who can whip up a fantastic meal, regardless of the ingredients on hand
Recent Examples on the Web With a passion for play and a heart packed with humor, Jameson is a true video game extraordinaire. The Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2024 Out in theaters in the U.S. December 15, the newest installment inspired by Roald Dahl’s fantastical story follows how Willy Wonka himself—magician, inventor, and chocolatier extraordinaire—came to be. Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2023 The aforementioned Justin is our chef extraordinaire. Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Additional production support provided by multiplatform editor extraordinaire, Susan Howson, research wizard Julia Malleck, and audience insight genius Ashley Webster. Quartz Staff, Quartz, 10 Mar. 2023 His character was a train wreck — midlife crisis extraordinaire. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 28 Oct. 2023 Thanks to Dallas Cowboys broadcasting’s Chris Behm, videographer and producer extraordinaire, for pointing out the equipment change on the sideline. Kristi Scales, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2023 Heather Headley as Helen Decatur Heather Headley, 48, plays the role of Helen Decatur, a no-nonsense lawyer and aunt extraordinaire to Maddie and Dana Sue’s children. Audrey Schmidt, Peoplemag, 20 July 2023 The fashion extraordinaire, who got his start as a sketch artist for Edith Head and Jean Louis in the early '60s, has quite the resume. Brittany Natale, Redbook, 14 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extraordinaire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extraordinaire was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near extraordinaire

Cite this Entry

“Extraordinaire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extraordinaire. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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