curiosity

noun cu·ri·os·i·ty \ ˌkyu̇r-ē-ˈä-s(ə-)tē , ˌkyər- \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Examples: curiosity in a Sentence

Definition of curiosity

plural curiosities

1 : desire to know:

a : inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosiness

The construction inside their house aroused the curiosity of their neighbors.

b : interest leading to inquiry

intellectual curiosity

Her natural curiosity led her to ask more questions.

2 archaic : undue nicety or fastidiousness

3 a : one that arouses interest especially for uncommon or exotic characteristics

Tobacco was once regarded as a curiosity in Europe.

b : an unusual knickknack : curio

The antique shop was full of curiosities.

c : a curious trait or aspect

See curiosity defined for English-language learners

See curiosity defined for kids

Examples of curiosity in a Sentence

Her natural curiosity led her to ask more questions.
The arrival of a construction crew at their house attracted the curiosity of their neighbors.
The movie failed to satisfy her curiosity about the assassination.
Tobacco was once a curiosity in Europe.
The antique shop was full of curiosities.

Recent Examples of curiosity from the Web

After the bodies were discovered, police descended upon the scene and crowds of curiosity-seekers gathered outside of Blackfriars.

— emily sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Four decades have passed since five men were found dead at the Blackfriars Pub in Boston," 12 July 2018
The event is sponsored by the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, and Hinman said this year marked the biggest turnout — complete with crime scene stations, a hostage negotiator van and specialized SWAT team gear to pique campers’ curiosity.

— alison kuznitz, courant.com, "Giving Back To Hartford Youth, Police Departments Statewide Attend 'Law Enforcement Day' At Camp Courant," 11 July 2018
The nasty odor came in waves Saturday afternoon as curiosity seekers took a peak.

— daniel i. dorfman, chicagotribune.com, "Corpse flower makes repeat performance — this time outdoors — at Chicago Botanic Garden," 3 July 2018
And now comes Cousins, dropping in out of sheer curiosity.

— bruce jenkins, SFChronicle.com, "DeMarcus Cousins and the Warriors: A temporary, fascinating spectacle," 3 July 2018
Eclipses activate the area of your chart associated with destiny, so pay extra close attention curiosities: Your hobbies may ultimately inform your legacy.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What July's Gemini Horoscope Means for You," 29 June 2018
Experts aren’t quite sure why exercise may help ward off migraines in some people, but there’s a lot of curiosity around physical activity’s ability to modulate a person’s pain response through endorphins or other influences.

— colleen stinchcombe, SELF, "Yes, Your Workouts Could Actually Be Triggering Your Migraines," 23 June 2018
Half the people who will tune into the match will probably be doing so out of morbid curiosity.

— patricia hernandez, The Verge, "Logan and Jake Paul’s fight with KSI is shaping up to be deeply embarrassing," 22 June 2018
These dark, formidable buildings rightfully attracted the attention and curiosity of those who were not members.

— robert khederian, Curbed, "Tomb raiders: The clubhouses of Yale’s secret societies," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curiosity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.