Word
oddball
Phoneticsodd·ball, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑdˌbɔɫ/
UK/ˈɒdbɔːl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who is very different from others and often acts in a strange or unusual way. You use this to describe someone who is unique but might be a bit hard to understand.
n. a person who is eccentric or unconventional in behaviour or appearance. Often carries a slightly informal or lighthearted tone when describing someone's idiosyncrasies.
Examples
“He is a bit of an oddball, but he is very kind.”
“The small town was full of oddballs who preferred living on the edge of the woods rather than in the main square.”
“While his colleagues followed the standard protocol, he was a certified oddball who preferred to solve problems by playing chess with the janitor during lunch breaks.”
Examples
simple
“He is a bit of an oddball, but he is very kind.”
contextual
“The small town was full of oddballs who preferred living on the edge of the woods rather than in the main square.”
complex
“While his colleagues followed the standard protocol, he was a certified oddball who preferred to solve problems by playing chess with the janitor during lunch breaks.”
Etymology
Compound of odd + ball. First used in late 1930s, describing an extra ball played as a bonus in pin-ball type games. Well-attested since the 1940s, with the adjective appearing earlier than the noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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