noun C1 Advanced

oddity

O-dih-tee

Oddity (noun) means a strange or unusual thing, person, or detail. Example: “The two-headed calf was the fairground's star oddity.”

noun

A strange or unusual thing, person, or detail.

"The two-headed calf was the fairground's star oddity."

"Among the antiques was one genuine oddity: a clock with no hands."

How to use oddity

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that stands out for being strange or unusual.

Common pairings

a genuine oddity a curious oddity statistical oddity

oddities plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The two-headed calf was the fairground's star _____.

Built from "odd" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ity", on the same pattern as "rarity" from "rare".

anomaly curiosity peculiarity quirk freak rarity

interest lack fan lucky strange upset curious exception

city pity deity acuity parity entity brevity opacity paucity ability quality reality

What does “oddity” mean?

The word “oddity” means a strange or unusual thing, person, or detail. In plain terms, something that stands out for being strange or unusual.

How do you pronounce “oddity”?

“Oddity” is pronounced O-dih-tee (/ˈɑdɪti/ in IPA).

How do you use “oddity” in a sentence?

Here is “oddity” used in a sentence: “The two-headed calf was the fairground's star oddity.”

What part of speech is “oddity”?

“Oddity” is a noun.

Vocabulary lists that include oddity:

interest lack fan lucky strange upset curious exception