singular

1 of 2

adjective

sin·​gu·​lar ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər 

1

a

: of or relating to a separate person or thing : individual

b

: of, relating to, or being a word form denoting one person, thing, or instance

a singular noun

c

: of or relating to a single instance or to something considered by itself

2

: distinguished by superiority : exceptional

an artist of singular attainments

3

: being out of the ordinary : unusual

on the way home we had a singular adventure

4

: departing from general usage or expectation : peculiar, odd

the air had a singular chill

5

a

of a matrix : having a determinant equal to zero

b

of a linear transformation : having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero

singularly adverb

singular

2 of 2

noun

1

: the singular number, the inflectional form denoting it, or a word in that form

2

: a singular term

Synonyms of singular

Adjective

• extraordinary
• unusual
• unique
• exceptional
• rare
• uncommon
• abnormal
• remarkable
• outstanding
• odd

Choose the Right Synonym for singular

strange, singular, unique, peculiar, eccentric, erratic, odd, quaint, outlandish mean departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected.

strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's First Lady

eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Examples of singular in a Sentence

Adjective

In the phrase “his car is red,” the word “car” is a singular noun.

He had a singular appearance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Now in her second season of The Real Housewives of Potomac, Rusch has become one of the franchise’s biggest breakouts in recent memory thanks to a singular personality that has simultaneously gripped fans and perplexed her castmates. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

But for one day — or for at least about five minutes during a media viewing window — that intrigue shifted to a singular place on the field. —Sam McDowell 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025

This is more than a token investment, budget line-item, or singular project. —Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025

In the last few years, Teen Vogue has rebranded itself as a beacon for rigorous, progressive, gender-expansive-feminist journalism, with a singular focus on how today’s biggest issues affect the teens. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English singuler, from Anglo-French, from Latin singularis, from singulus only one — more at single

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing singular

• singular point
• the singular

Rhymes for singular

• cingular

Kids Definition

singular

1 of 2 adjective

sin·​gu·​lar ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər 

1

a

: of or relating to a separate person or thing : individual

b

: of, relating to, or constituting a word form denoting one person, thing, or instance

a singular noun

c

: of or relating to a single instance or to something considered by itself

2

: exceptional sense 1

3

: different from general expectations : peculiar

singularly adverb

singular

2 of 2 noun

: something that is singular

especially : the singular number, the inflectional form denoting it, or a word in that form