oddball

[ od-bawl ]

noun

1. a person or thing that is atypical, bizarre, eccentric, or nonconforming, especially one having beliefs that are unusual but harmless.

adjective

1. whimsically free-spirited; eccentric; atypical:

   an oddball scheme.

oddball

/ ˈɒdˌbɔːl /

noun

1. Also calledodd bododd fish a strange or eccentric person

adjective

1. strange or peculiar

Word History and Origins

Origin of oddball¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; odd + ball ¹

Example Sentences

The oddball of them all, the nominee who emerged out of nowhere, is Hegseth, a complete unknown to anyone who doesn’t watch Fox & Friends Weekend, which he has co-hosted for a decade.

From Slate

She’s someone I think I could get into for a while because she’s such an oddball but is seriously good at what she does, just her people skills are lacking.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh,” premiering Thursday on Prime Video, is a funny and oddball new series from Vijal Patel about a South Asian family that moves to the Pennsylvania city.

From Los Angeles Times

There is a sense of randomness to this journey, but Hardy’s oddball charm and a great soundtrack go a long way to smooth the bumps in the road.

From Los Angeles Times

Tim Marlow, CEO of the Design Museum, said: “During his extraordinary career, Tim Burton has harnessed a compelling mixture of gothic horror and black comedy, of melancholy and enchantment, of oddball whimsy and visionary range in the creation of fantastical filmic worlds.”

From BBC

Related Words

• eccentric