rarity

noun

rar·​i·​ty ˈrer-ə-tē 

plural rarities

1

: the quality, state, or fact of being rare

2

: one that is rare

Synonyms

• curio
• curiosity
• exotic
• objet d'art
• objet
• oddity
• oddment

Examples of rarity in a Sentence

In most sports, athletes over the age of 50 are rarities.

Snow is a rarity in this part of the world.

He is selling most of his collection, keeping only the real rarities.

The rarity of the disease makes it difficult to diagnose.

Recent Examples on the Web

Foreclosures, the really troublesome home loan indicator – are a rarity Going broke Perhaps the worst cases of skipping bills – bankruptcy filings – also have been rare so far in this economic cycle. —Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024

But of course, Cook did reflect on the genre of Britpop while constructing the album: the rarity of two of the genre’s biggest guitar bands — Oasis and Blur — battling it out at the top of the charts, their aversion to fame and their opposite methods of storytelling. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rarity

noun

rar·​i·​ty ˈrar-ət-ē 

ˈrer-

plural rarities

1

: the quality, state, or fact of being rare

2

: someone or something rare