oddity

noun

ˈä-də-tē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
Definition of odditynext
1
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit his one oddity is collecting used pencil leads

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2
as in rarity
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest years ago circus sideshows used to display people with unusual physical features as oddities

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3
as in anomaly
something that is different from what is ordinary or expected she is an oddity in that, unlike her sisters, she avoids social media

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4
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits an oddity with a penchant for weaving cat fur

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oddity But like so many beloved genre oddities, that next chapter never materialized. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026 Soft serve is a particular strength here, and devotees know to ask for the coffee–black raspberry twist, a Massachusetts oddity found at only a handful of parlors around the state. — Luke Pyenson, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 This peculiar group has evolved an astonishing array of survival strategies, superpowers, and oddities. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026 Meanwhile, here are a few more pieces of trivia, oddities and curiosities coming out of the 2026 Emmy nominations. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for oddity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oddity
  1. trick
  2. rarity
  3. anomaly
  4. eccentric
  5. quirk
  6. exception
  7. character
  8. trait
Noun
  • Coker — a wide receiver — was asked to run a trick play and play QB for a moment.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Joao Pedro scored a nine-minute hat-trick during Chelsea’s 6-4 pre-season victory over Western Sydney Warriors on July 28.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • Collectors seek these modes for their rarity in hopes of collecting the full series (usually 5-15 cars).
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • Still, even these don’t quite compete with Team ICO’s trio of brilliance, which have become collector’s items in recent years due to their sheer rarity.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • The system collects readings every 100 milliseconds from roughly 300 sensors on each machine, using time-series anomaly detection and graph neural networks to detect abnormal operating conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
  • TFMs, however, are built to properly process numeric and textual data within rows and columns, identify crucial patterns, and manage common data issues like missing values or anomalies.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
  • The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • To what extent should a hostess accommodate these concerns — or quirks?
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 29 July 2026
  • Monday starts the week-long Chicago residency of the New York Yankees, a scheduling quirk as anticipated as Buddy Guy’s annual winter residency at Legends.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
Definition of quirk
Noun
  • Congress granted veterans who served at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune an exception because of severe groundwater contamination that sickened thousands of veterans and their families who served and lived on the base between 1953 and 1987.
    — Nicole Borman, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Prescription liquids, gels, and aerosols Medication prescribed specifically for you is perhaps the most common item that qualifies as an exception.
    — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • None of the characters has a convincing motivation for their actions or words.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Nolan has cited Wilson's translation in discussing his approach to the film, but Wilson says she was disappointed with the adaptation — and especially by Nolan's rendering of the central character.
    — Dave Davies, NPR, 29 July 2026
Definition of character
Noun
  • The wonky toe is Jerry's only notable identifying physical trait, Rapp said.
    — Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Getting there defied logic and demanded resilience, traits that have defined this club during a chaotic season.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of trait

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Cite this Entry

“Oddity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oddity. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of oddity for Spanish Speakers

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