Word
oddity
Phoneticsodd·i·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑdəti/
UK/ˈɒdɪti/
Countable noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“The museum displays a strange oddity from the deep sea.”
“The old house was full of oddities, like a clock that never ticked and a mirror that showed nothing.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Etymology
From odd + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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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QR code
englishreference.com/q/oddity