oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈä-də-tē 

plural oddities

1

: an odd person, thing, event, or trait

2

: the quality or state of being odd

Synonyms

• crotchet
• curiosity
• eccentricity
• erraticism
• idiosyncrasy
• individualism
• kink
• mannerism
• peculiarity
• quiddity
• quip
• quirk
• singularity
• tic
• trick
• twist

Examples of oddity in a Sentence

Her shyness makes her a bit of an oddity in the business world.

The zoo has such oddities as anteaters and platypuses.

Recent Examples on the Web

View gallery - 14 images 2024 has been a year in space that has seen successes, failures, a clutch of firsts, and some goodbyes – not to mention a long-distance probe rescue, spacesuits on the catwalk, and a couple of cosmic oddities. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 18 Jan. 2025

Explanations Are Over-The-Top OpenAI seems to have remained mum and isn’t telling us what is at the root of this oddity. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Most enticing, there was a palpable impression of confidence in the storytelling, a calm self-assuredness underneath the superficial oddities. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025

Throughout the clip, Deuce seems completely at ease, oblivious to the oddity of his prize. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈäd-ət-ē 

plural oddities

1

: something odd

2

: the quality or state of being odd