# oddly

/ˈɑdɫi/ (US) · /ˈɒdli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oddly
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. strangely

adverb · CEFR B1

in a strange, unusual, or unexpected way.

For teachers: in a peculiar or eccentric manner that deviates from the expected norm.

- The cat was behaving oddly, staring at the empty corner for hours.
- Oddly enough, the witness remembered the colour of the suspect's shoes but could not describe his face with any certainty.

Usage: often used as a sentence adverb at the start of a clause to show the speaker's attitude.

### 2. math/numbers

adverb · CEFR C2 · Technical

in a way that involves odd numbers like 1, 3, or 5.

For teachers: in a manner characterized by or relating to odd numbers; having a parity of one.

- The houses on this side of the street are numbered oddly.
- The algorithm ensures that the data packets are distributed oddly across the secondary servers to prevent a specific type of processing bottleneck.

Usage: rarely used outside of specific mathematical or technical contexts.

## Examples

- The door was oddly quiet today.
- She felt oddly calm despite the chaos around her.
- It is oddly fitting that the most rigid bureaucrat should champion such a fluid and abstract policy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.