# peculiar

/pəkˈjuɫjɝ/ (US) · /pɪkjˈuːliə/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. strange or odd

adjective · CEFR B2

strange, unusual, or odd in a way that might be hard to understand.

For teachers: deviating from the usual or expected; exhibiting strangeness or eccentricity.

- The milk had a peculiar smell, so I decided not to drink it.
- The witness noted a peculiar clicking sound emanating from the engine just moments before the vehicle came to a complete halt.

### 2. specific to one thing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

belonging only to one particular person, place, or situation.

For teachers: belonging exclusively to a specific individual, group, or circumstance; often used with the preposition 'to'.

- This type of traditional dance is peculiar to this small mountain village.
- The researcher argued that such linguistic patterns are peculiar to the isolated dialects of the northern archipelago.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'to'.

### 3. private or personal

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

belonging to yourself alone; not shared with others.

For teachers: pertaining to one's own private property or individual character; not held in common.

- He kept his peculiar troubles to himself and never asked for help.
- In the old legal documents, the land was described as his peculiar possession, free from any claims by the local lord.

### 4. church jurisdiction

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical · Formal

a church or parish that is not under the control of the local bishop.

For teachers: an ecclesiastical district or parish exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop in whose diocese it lies.

- Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it answers directly to the monarch.
- The legal status of the Royal Peculiars remains a unique vestige of medieval ecclesiastical law within the Church of England.

## Examples

- The milk has a peculiar smell today.
- The custom of wearing bright colors at funerals is peculiar to this specific mountain village.
- While the architecture appeared standard from the street, the interior layout was quite peculiar, featuring narrow staircases that led to nowhere and windows placed at floor level.

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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.