odd

adjective

\ˈäd

Definition of odd

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : being without a corresponding (see corresponding sense 1) mate an odd shoe

b(1) : left over after others are paired or grouped came without his wife and thus turned out to be the odd guest at the party

(2) : separated from a set or series had in his possession only two or three odd volumes of the original 12-volume set

2a : somewhat more than the indicated approximate quantity, extent, or degree —usually used in combination 300-odd pages

b(1) : left over as a remainder had a few odd dollars left after paying his bills

(2) : constituting a small amount had some odd change in her pocket

3a : being any of the integers (such as −3, −1, +1, and +3) that are not divisible by two without leaving a remainder

b : marked by an odd number of units needed two odd-length boards, one of three feet and one of five feet

c : being a function (see function entry 1 sense 5a) such that f (−x) = −f (x) where the sign is reversed but the absolute value remains the same if the sign of the independent variable is reversed

4a : not regular, expected, or planned worked at odd jobs

b : encountered or experienced from time to time : occasional manages to get in some reading at odd moments

5 : having an out-of-the-way location : remote found it in some odd corner of the house

6 : differing markedly from the usual, ordinary, or accepted : peculiar a very odd way to show gratitude

ODD

abbreviation

Definition of ODD (Entry 2 of 2)

oppositional defiant disorder

Other Words from odd Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about odd

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Synonyms & Antonyms for odd

Synonyms: Adjective

unmatched, unpaired

Antonyms: Adjective

matched, paired

Choose the Right Synonym for odd

Adjective

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 odd in a Sentence

Adjective

She had an odd look on her face. People would call at odd hours during the night. She's got a really odd sense of humor. Some rather odd people used to live in this house. There was something odd about his story. It's odd that nobody told me about this before. That's odd. He was here a minute ago. That is one of the oddest creatures I have ever seen. She kept a stack of magazines that she would read at odd moments. During the summer, he would do odd jobs for his neighbors to earn extra money.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Along the tranquil shoreline of Hanoi's Trúc Bạch Lake, where, half a century ago, John McCain was pulled from the water with his parachute, there’s a humble little restaurant that McCain himself might have found amusing, if decidedly odd. — Peter Jon Lindberg, Condé Nast Traveler, "Hanoi, Time and Again," 20 Nov. 2018 Fighting with My Family Stephen Merchant directs this very odd comedy about a pair of siblings trying to break into the wrestling world. — Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge, "New trailers: Detective Pikachu, Toy Story 4, and more," 17 Nov. 2018 If you are attached, your emotional nature will pay off in odd ways. — BostonGlobe.com, "Horoscope," 3 July 2018 For the rest of the year, the only sign of life is the odd patch of bright green reeds, fed by underground water. — Mary Holland, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why Your Next Safari Should Be in Namibia," 6 Nov. 2018 As the plane approached the runway, Zeiger heard an odd sound, like pellets smacking a metal target at a fairground shooting game. — Jim Rendon, Marie Claire, "When Female Veterans Return Home," 29 Oct. 2018 In an odd twist of neurology, and to the diagnostic confusion of doctors, people can have migraines without headaches. — Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, "Vertigo, Panic and Trouble Breathing: What's Going On Here?," 19 Oct. 2018 The 65,000 ships are the largest warships ever built in the U.K. One odd feature (or lack thereof) on the two carriers is the absence of aircraft catapults and arresting gear. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "U.K. F-35s Will Use Strange Rolling Carrier Landings," 16 Oct. 2018 The 6th House The Sixth House corresponds with health, wellness, and daily routines, including odd jobs. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "The 12 Astrological Houses: Interpreting Your Birth Chart Beyond the Zodiac," 6 Oct. 2018

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