oddity

noun

odd·i·ty | \ˈä-də-tē

plural oddities

Definition of oddity

1 : an odd person, thing, event, or trait

2 : the quality or state of being odd

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about oddity

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Examples of oddity in a Sentence

Her shyness makes her a bit of an oddity in the business world. The zoo has such oddities as anteaters and platypuses.

Recent Examples on the Web

But if the Earth is a space oddity, life may be rare—even, perhaps, a one-off. — The Economist, "Empty sky, empty Earth?," 5 July 2018 There are also some oddities in the details that suggest this effect isn't simply a matter of politics. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Acceptance of climate science can reach saturation," 17 Apr. 2018 The Rockets’ gonzo lineups are more than just oddities to break up the monotony of your 12th night in a row of watching League Pass. — Rohan Nadkarni, SI.com, "Five-Man Freight Train: These Rockets Lineups Run the NBA Wild," 7 Mar. 2018 Despite normal operation, there are some oddities to the Clarity. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Review: 2018 Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid clears the way for electrification," 31 Aug. 2017 Still, the circus is a world onto itself, whose free-wheeling denizens are united by their oddities and differences. — Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Great Mystical Circus' ('O Grande Circo Mistico'): Film Review | Cannes 2018," 13 May 2018 One of the oddities of the Russia scandal is that many of the most exotic and sinister theories have come from people within government and especially within the intelligence field. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Will Trump Be Meeting With His Counterpart — Or His Handler?," 8 July 2018 These measurement difficulties may help explain some of the oddities that harsher critics delight in pointing out. — The Economist, "China’s statistics are bad. Many criticisms of them are worse," 7 July 2018 But the oddity of her Reform Party victory illustrates the pull and occasional power of New York’s third parties — entities like the Women’s Equality Party and the influential Working Families Party. — Lisa W. Foderaro, New York Times, "Ocasio-Cortez Highlights How Third-Party Quirks Can Muddle Elections," 11 July 2018

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