peculiarity

noun

pe·​cu·​liar·​i·​ty pi-ˌkyül-ˈyer-ə-tē 

-ˈya-rə-;

-ˌkyü-lē-ˈer-ə-,

-ˈa-rə-

plural peculiarities

1

: the quality or state of being peculiar

2

: a distinguishing characteristic

3

: oddity, quirk

Synonyms

• crotchet
• curiosity
• eccentricity
• erraticism
• idiosyncrasy
• individualism
• kink
• mannerism
• oddity
• quiddity
• quip
• quirk
• singularity
• tic
• trick
• twist

Examples of peculiarity in a Sentence

the peculiarity of his appearance

It is a peculiarity of the house that there is no front door.

her peculiarities as a writer

Scientists tried to explain some peculiarities in the results of the experiment.

Recent Examples on the Web

An Australian claymation wonder, Memoir of a Snail is an odd yet captivating tale of memory, loss, and the peculiarities of human (and snail) behavior. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024

Its conceptual peculiarities — the dialogue in verse, the neo-Roman hair and costume design — can be endearing, but the performances are all over the place, and not every actor appears to have gotten the memo. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024

Photo: Wilson Webb/Weinstein Company/Everett Collection Blame it on the peculiarities of awards season that Blanchett was considered the lead in this exquisite romantic drama while Rooney Mara, who’s actually the main character, was slotted as the supporting role. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024

Sometimes explorations of the unknown cross not into a strange land but into the peculiarities of the human mind. —The Week Us, theweek, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

peculiarity

noun

pe·​cu·​liar·​i·​ty pi-ˌkyül-ˈyar-ət-ē 

-ˌkyü-lē-ˈar-

plural peculiarities

1

: the quality or state of being peculiar

2

: something different or individual

3

: something odd or abnormal