odd number
noun
: a whole number that is not able to be divided by two into two equal whole numbers
The numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7 are odd numbers.
Examples of odd number in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the challenge, the castaways drew rocks to split into two teams, with Tiffany having to sit out because of an odd number of players.
—
Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Any odd number of twists produces a Möbius strip, because the resulting shape still has only one side.
—Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
Attempts to derive ought from is are like attempts to reach an odd number by adding together even numbers.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2010
And then there’s the annoying odd number thing, based on the specious notion that readers are more curious about the specificity of, say, nine and 21 than 10 and 20.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024
In dimensions five and higher — remember, contact manifolds can only have an odd number of dimensions — these questions still aren’t answered.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023
While a dozen means a group of 12, a baker’s dozen is a group of 13, an odd number of bakery goods that came about nearly 1,000 years ago.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2023
The result was 16 teams in 7A, 19 in 6A, 33 in 5A, 47 in 4A, 43 in 3A and 29 in 2A, and the odd numbers led to some conferences having an odd number of teams, leading to open dates during conference play and schools having to search for nonconference opponents to complete their schedules.
—Henry Apple, Arkansas Online, 23 July 2023
There was still an odd number of competitors for Sunday.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2023
Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Any odd number of twists produces a Möbius strip, because the resulting shape still has only one side.
—Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
Attempts to derive ought from is are like attempts to reach an odd number by adding together even numbers.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2010
And then there’s the annoying odd number thing, based on the specious notion that readers are more curious about the specificity of, say, nine and 21 than 10 and 20.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024
In dimensions five and higher — remember, contact manifolds can only have an odd number of dimensions — these questions still aren’t answered.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023
While a dozen means a group of 12, a baker’s dozen is a group of 13, an odd number of bakery goods that came about nearly 1,000 years ago.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2023
The result was 16 teams in 7A, 19 in 6A, 33 in 5A, 47 in 4A, 43 in 3A and 29 in 2A, and the odd numbers led to some conferences having an odd number of teams, leading to open dates during conference play and schools having to search for nonconference opponents to complete their schedules.
—Henry Apple, Arkansas Online, 23 July 2023
There was still an odd number of competitors for Sunday.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'odd number.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near odd number
Cite this Entry
“Odd number.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/odd%20number. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share