odd

adjective

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\ ˈäd

Definition of odd

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

2a : 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

3a : 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

4a : 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

5a : somewhat more than the indicated approximate quantity, extent, or degree —usually used in combination300-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

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

odd

interjection

variant spelling of od

archaic

—used as a mild oath

ODD

abbreviation

Definition of ODD (Entry 3 of 3)

oppositional defiant disorder

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

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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 At a time when the quirky citizens of Springfield feel less odd than those in real life, Fox's (very) long-running animated comedy feels almost quaint in its rude humor and pop-culture parodies. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "The 20 best TV shows on Disney+ to watch right now," 6 Jan. 2021 Among my other odd notions is that comedies are far more beloved — and have more lasting power — than dramas. — Chris Erskine, Los Angeles Times, "I heart the Oscars. Even with all the weirdness," 5 Jan. 2021 The Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet, or GAPS, is for people with an odd spectrum of conditions: severe digestive and immune system issues, learning disabilities and serious neurological conditions. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "Mediterranean diet named best diet for 2021," 5 Jan. 2021 They are paired with either solid-color or patterned odd trousers in any suitable color that contrasts or coordinates with, but does not exactly match, the blazer. — Arkansas Online, "OPINION | MALE CALL: Blazers and sport coats/jackets are not the same thing," 4 Jan. 2021 Congress has been considering a $2,000-per-person stimulus payment backed by the odd combination of both President Trump and Democrats. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "$600 stimulus payments on the way; Where we stand on $2,000 check," 4 Jan. 2021 There are odd, unlikely romances, a suicide, and babies born out of wedlock. — Moira Hodgson, WSJ, "‘House of Trelawney’ Review: The Weight of the Estate," 1 Jan. 2021 In this case, five people is too few, but six will do the trick—so the Ramsey number for this odd social-engineering task is six. — Dan Rockmore, The New Yorker, "Three Mathematicians We Lost in 2020," 31 Dec. 2020 That type of system becomes more difficult to maintain if the league is split into two divisions, each with an odd number of teams. — Greg Luca, ExpressNews.com, "UTSA preparing for quirks of altered Conference USA schedule," 31 Dec. 2020

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.