English Reference
Noun

oddity

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɑdəti/ UK /ˈɒdɪti/ odd·i·ty UK spelling oddities, oddity's

n.something that is strange, unusual, or different from what is normal. You use this to describe a person, object, or event that stands out because it is not common.

n.a person, object, or event that is strange, unusual, or out of the ordinary. Often carries a slightly negative or curious tone depending on the context.


SIMPLE

The museum displays a strange oddity from the deep sea.

CONTEXTUAL

The old house was full of oddities, like a clock that never ticked and a mirror that showed nothing.

COMPLEX

While the artist's early works were conventional, his later pieces were celebrated for their eccentric oddities, which challenged the very definition of what a painting should be.


From odd + -ity.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated