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

For many New Jersey residents like the Dunbars, the drones feel more like an oddity, and a nuisance, than a threat. —Alyce McFadden, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2024

Clothing, antiques, food, vinyl, jewelry, arts and crafts, oddities and more. —Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 24 Nov. 2024

Whenever a cup draw pits two teams together immediately before or after a regular season fixture, it’s remarked upon as an oddity, a unique variable for which both teams must account. —Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024

Or how many were turned off by the continuing drumbeat of Kennedy oddities. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 1 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