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

Herbert wove a complicated universe with oddball technologies, bizarre competing factions and religions that are easier to digest over the methodical consumption of hundreds of pages.

From Salon

They tore into Matt Gaetz and RFK Jr. immediately in the cold open, lampooning Trump's cast of oddballs using some of their own.

From Salon

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

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

I wasn’t doing drugs or drinking, really, so I was always a little bit of the oddball in the group.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eccentric