oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈä-də-tē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
plural oddities
Synonyms of odditynext
1
: an odd person, thing, event, or trait
2
: the quality or state of being odd

Examples of oddity in a Sentence

Her shyness makes her a bit of an oddity in the business world. The zoo has such oddities as anteaters and platypuses.
Recent Examples on the Web
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And then there are true oddities like Stamptown, which is shooting its debut special for Netflix during the festival on May 8 and 9 at the Montalban Theatre, that thrive on being an uncategorizable ball of comedic energy with dancers, funny acrobats, skits and stand-up. Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 The nearest oddity on this list sits right over the state border in Kansas. Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026 Adding to his military exhibit, Crazy Horse display and gallery of unique oddities. John Lauritsen, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026 But there are some oddities that don’t quite fit this model. ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oddity

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oddity was in 1713

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Cite this Entry

“Oddity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oddity. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

oddity

noun
odd·​i·​ty ˈäd-ət-ē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
plural oddities
1
: something odd
2
: the quality or state of being odd

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