oddity

[od-i-tee]

noun

plural

oddities 

1. an odd or remarkably unusual person, thing, or event.

   Synonyms: wonder, curiosity, rarity

2. the quality of being odd; singularity, strangeness, or eccentricity.

3. an odd characteristic or trait; peculiarity.

oddity

/ ˈɒdɪtɪ /

noun

1. an odd person or thing

2. an odd quality or characteristic

3. the condition of being odd

Word History and Origins

Origin of oddity¹

First recorded in 1705–15; odd + -ity

Example Sentences

I always assumed this oddity had something to do with Washington.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The deal netted Comstock a foothold in the Western Haynesville and a team of engineers well-versed in the region’s oddities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But it was refreshing to experience such a beguiling performance oddity at Pasadena Playhouse.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The musical is rewardingly small-scaled, an oddity itself in the West End, glutted with splashy Broadway imports.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The cutesy performance shtick around a shoestring variety show — imagine Pee-wee’s Playhouse without the bewitching oddity — grows wearying.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abnormality 
• anomaly 
• characteristic 
• curiosity 
• idiosyncrasy 
• incongruity 
• irregularity 
• peculiarity 
• phenomenon 
• quirk 
• rarity