Word
rarity
Phoneticsrar·i·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛɹəti/
UK/ɹˈeəɹətˌi/
Definitions
01the state of being scarce
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the quality of being very unusual or hard to find.
n. the quality or state of being rare; infrequency of occurrence or scarcity of supply.
“The rarity of this disease makes it very difficult for doctors to study.”
“The extreme rarity of the mineral in this region has driven its market price to unprecedented levels.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article 'the' followed by 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a rare object
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person or thing that is very unusual and therefore often valuable.
n. a person or thing that is particularly unusual, uncommon, or valuable due to its scarcity.
“In today's world, a politician who admits their mistakes is a real rarity.”
“The collector spent decades searching for this specific stamp, which remains a legendary rarity among philatelists.”
Usage
Typically used as a countable noun with 'a' or 'an'.
03low density
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the state of being thin or not dense, like the air high up on a mountain.
n. the property of having low density or being thin in consistency; the opposite of density.
“The rarity of the air at high altitudes makes it hard for climbers to breathe.”
“The experiment required a vacuum to test how the rarity of the medium affected the speed of the particles.”
Usage
Primarily used in scientific or formal contexts to describe gases or atmospheres.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Handheld PCs are no longer a rarity, and neither are handheld games machines.” Etymology
From rare + -ity, borrowed from Middle French rarité, from Latin rāritās; compare French rareté. See also rare.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/rarity