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: literary and critical term; often used in discussions of art, literature, and film

Examples

• The artist defamiliarizes everyday objects by placing them in unexpected contexts.
• The film defamiliarizes the viewer's perception of reality through surreal imagery.
• Experimental poetry often defamiliarizes language to challenge conventional meaning.
• The author defamiliarizes the domestic setting by describing it from an alien perspective.
• Special effects defamiliarize the natural world in science fiction movies.
• The photographer defamiliarizes urban landscapes by shooting them from unusual angles.