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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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

The main one brings together the laconic middle-aged lesbian Otto (Patrena Murray) and her hyperactive, voluble 16-year-old roommate, Bit (Reyna de Courcy), an odd couple thrown together by the arbitrary gods who rule Off Off Broadway. — New York Times, "Review: More Than the Couples Are Odd in ‘The Hollower’," 25 May 2018 As these technologies mature, their ascendance may owe a lot to the kinds of odd-couple relationships that linked Dimon and Baldet. — Robert Hackett, Fortune, "How JPMorgan Chase Learned to Love the Blockchain," 24 May 2018 In a world where puppets and humans co-exist, two odd-couple cops (one human, one puppet) band together to solve a crime. — Lindsey Bahr, kansascity, "Your guide to summer movies, from ‘Avengers’ to ‘Solo’ to ‘Mamma Mia’ | The Kansas City Star," 26 Apr. 2018 Butterfield and Wolff have a charming, odd-couple chemistry as the awkward Sebastian and rebellious Jared, both boys straining against their overprotective parents. — Katie Walsh, latimes.com, "Punk rock blows teen's mind in 'The House of Tomorrow'," 26 Apr. 2018 The odd-looking wing pads that replace the traditional padded headband on these headphones work very well, and the overall clamping force is perfect for keeping them securely on my head without creating any sense of undue pressure. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Audio-Technica R70x review: the definition of neutral headphones," 6 July 2018 Based off the wildly popular Instagram account @AnimalsDoingThings showcasing odd animal behavior, this new Nat Geo WILD show promises you plenty of feel-good, fluffy giggles. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "Want to Turn Your Pet's Hilariously Oddball Behavior into Comedy Gold? There's a Show For That!," 15 June 2018 What seems odd, however, is that his average slider velocity has actually gone up, going from 81.6 in his first six starts to 82 mph in seven starts since. — Nick Piecoro, azcentral, "Zack Godley gets back on track as Diamondbacks finish sweep," 10 June 2018 That is one reason why the controversy over the academic qualifications of Samsonite ’s 1910 9.85% now former chief executive has all seemed so odd. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, "Samsonite Is Still Carrying Baggage After Packing Off Its CEO," 1 June 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.