oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈä-də-tē 

plural oddities

1

: an odd person, thing, event, or trait

2

: the quality or state of being odd

Synonyms

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

Examples of oddity in a Sentence

Her shyness makes her a bit of an oddity in the business world.

The zoo has such oddities as anteaters and platypuses.

Recent Examples on the Web

It is heated by a wood-burning stove and full of all manner of oddities: an old basketball net, welding helmets, a host of electrical cords, coasters, an impressive anvil in the middle of the room. —Emilien Hofman (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025

There’s just enough harrowing sorrow, eye-popping oddity and acting — whether good or hammy, there’s undeniably a lot of it — to make for a transfixing watch. —Alison Herman, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025

The hosts also talk about some business oddities related to the coaches, top seeds and biggest-name players. —Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2025

His interests focus on psychedelic science, new media, and science oddities. —New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oddity

• commodity

Kids Definition

oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈäd-ət-ē 

plural oddities

1

: something odd

2

: the quality or state of being odd