singular

1 of 2

adjective

sin·​gu·​lar ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər How to pronounce singular (audio)
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
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
The movie gets away with it, of course; the plot is merely a frame on which to hang Lee’s singular hypnotic balletic fighting bravura. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 Her arrival three years ago set into motion an exponential program trajectory, culminating in one singular moment recruiting a transcendent freshman and surrounding her with a bevy of irreplaceable supporting acts. Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2024 The decision was not well-received by some viewers, who criticized the list on social media for being disrespectful as a replacement for singular tribute slides. Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2024 McGill is an extraordinary player, with a quiver of skills and a palette of colors that only buttress what is a singular sensibility toward his instrument. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 But then, Haiti has a history of singular events—including the world’s only slave revolt that ended in the establishment of a state by the formerly enslaved. Amy Wilentz, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church occupies a creaky nineteenth-century sanctuary—and a singular position in the history of the Black freedom struggle. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 That singular moment of joy launched a thousands memes. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 The enormity of the child care crisis is undeniable, and no singular solution can fully meet its complex demands. Christine Michel Carter, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
Fortunately, though the show participated in Under the Radar, director Dmitry Krymov’s singular take on the most beloved Russian book by the most beloved Russian writer is still playing at BRIC through January 28. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 But in his singular — at times, prohibitive — focus on the threat posed by China, Colby downgrades the significance of seemingly every other American strategic priority. Noah Rothman, National Review, 23 Jan. 2024 The truck’s unusual design and construction, which consists of angular stainless steel and that giant singular wipe blade, have been frequently cited as being to blame for its lengthy development. Jon Porter, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2023 For the first two hours, audiences get Diaz’s singular take on a detective story, suspecting that there can be no satisfying resolution to such a case — or countless others in real life. Peter Debruge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2023 Down near the park, Susuru still sings for skewers, as does its new sibling, Juju — though each izakaya offers its own singular delights. Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2023 The former's singular, PEN/Faulkner Award-winning novel Behold the Dreamers concerns the collapse of Lehman Brothers; the latter has written three books centered largely on Pan-American communities. Seija Rankin, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2021 But the Jazz found the convincing means by which to keep the former singular and the latter plural, getting a second huge victory in three days. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'singular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of singular was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Singular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/singular. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

singular

1 of 2 adjective
sin·​gu·​lar ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər How to pronounce singular (audio)
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on singular

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