1. to make something familiar seem strange, unfamiliar, or unusual; to present the ordinary in a way that makes it appear new or surprising
Usage: British spelling (American: defamiliarizes); literary and critical term; often used in discussions of art, literature, and creative technique

Examples

• The artist defamiliarises everyday objects by placing them in unexpected contexts.
• The writer defamiliarises the reader's perception of home through surreal imagery.
• Modern poetry often defamiliarises language to challenge conventional understanding.
• The film defamiliarises urban landscapes by filming them from unusual angles.
• Experimental theatre defamiliarises social rituals to reveal their hidden meanings.
• The photographer defamiliarises the familiar by capturing ordinary scenes in black and white.
• This technique defamiliarises the viewer's relationship with the natural world.