singularity

noun

sin·​gu·​lar·​i·​ty ˌsiŋ-gyə-ˈler-ə-tē 

-ˈla-rə-

plural singularities

1

: something that is singular: such as

a

: a separate unit

b

: unusual or distinctive manner or behavior : peculiarity

2

: the quality or state of being singular

3

: a point at which the derivative of a given function of a complex variable does not exist but every neighborhood of which contains points for which the derivative does exist

4

: a point or region of infinite mass density at which space and time are infinitely distorted by gravitational forces and which is held to be the final state of matter falling into a black hole

Synonyms

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

Examples of singularity in a Sentence

People could not understand the singularity of his imagination.

a college professor with singularities of dress and speech that have long endeared him to his students

Recent Examples on the Web

Continuing down this path, these processes could form a key reinforcement loop in the asymptotic acceleration that shoots us into that wild idea of the singularity – where AI builds machines that are smarter than humans, and each new generation is able to improve itself faster than the last. —New Atlas, 30 Nov. 2024

As more and more plays turn their sights on the singularity, Theatre for a New Audience is distinguishing itself as a place where artificial intelligence receives particularly intelligent dramatic treatment. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024

And this album was just about kind of just embracing my singularity as an artist. —Steve Baltin, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Add more than that, and rather than collapse into a naked singularity, the cloud will disperse. —Steve Nadis, WIRED, 15 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

singularity

noun

sin·​gu·​lar·​i·​ty ˌsiŋ-gyə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

plural singularities

1

: the quality or state of being singular

2

: something that is singular : peculiarity

3

: a point or region of infinite density which is held to be the final state of matter falling into a black hole