sui generis

[ soo-i ge-ne-ris; English soo-ahy jen-er-is, soo-ee ]

adjective

, Latin.

1. of his, her, its, or their own kind; unique.

sui generis

/ ˌsuːaɪ ˈdʒɛnərɪs /

adjective

1. unique

sui generis

1. A person or thing that is unique, in a class by itself: “She is an original artist; each of her paintings is sui generis.” From Latin , meaning “of its own kind.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sui generis¹

Latin, literally: of its own kind

Example Sentences

“It is well established that a fetus is not a ‘person’; rather it is a sui generis organism,” the ruling stated.

From The Daily Beast

A study in American military control, a haunting sui generis novel, and a playful new short story collection.

From The Daily Beast

For a long while Zinfandel was the mystery grape, apparently sui generis except that nobody knew where it came from.

From The Daily Beast

Obama is something of a sui generis figure, yes, but I have my doubts.

From The Daily Beast

Cosell was not only sui generis, he also faded quickly from public consciousness once he was pushed off the air.

From The Daily Beast

This artist is, sui generis, a daughter of the people, of unconventional tastes and habits.

From Project Gutenberg

What struck everyone who had the good fortune to hear Chopin was the fact that he was a pianist sui generis.

From Project Gutenberg

That finely dressed gentleman is not a physician but a homeopathist sui generis—he professes completely the similis similibus.

From Project Gutenberg

Sternes too celebrated indecency, is, with one exception, sui generis.

From Project Gutenberg

As the Argus is also sui generis, perhaps Bangs does right to conduct it in a peculiar manner.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bizarre
• extraordinary
• fantastic
• miraculous
• new
• remarkable
• singular
• uncommon
• unheard-of
• unique
• unparalleled
• unrivaled
• unusual