oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈä-də-tē 

plural oddities

1

: an odd person, thing, event, or trait

2

: the quality or state of being odd

Synonyms

• crotchet
• curiosity
• eccentricity
• erraticism
• idiosyncrasy
• individualism
• kink
• mannerism
• peculiarity
• quiddity
• quip
• quirk
• singularity
• tic
• trick
• twist

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

Goodwill bins, which are essentially the last stop for unsold thrift store items, are known for yielding everything from vintage treasures to bizarre oddities. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Strange items lost in 2024 The report from Unclaimed Baggage said the store often takes in unexpected oddities, and 2024 was no different. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Here’s a recap of some of Monday’s other home-opener oddities — and which of them might be smoothed out while others remain. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Women are no longer expected to wear corsets, and what was once an oddity invented in a teenager’s bedroom, the bra, has since become a staple of every woman’s closet. —Molly Peck, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oddity

• commodity

Kids Definition

oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈäd-ət-ē 

plural oddities

1

: something odd

2

: the quality or state of being odd