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 of oddity

• trick
• quirk
• trait
• characteristic
• peculiarity
• idiosyncrasy
• mannerism
• eccentricity
• singularity

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

Gleick has a rich supply of oddities and delights from the telephone’s early history. — Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

The oddity of Sawligha’s reappearance, in whatever form, was a way of paying tribute to her. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

While the top two contenders hail from the same movie, a separate oddity might open the door for another supporting actress to earn two nods in the category. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Nino accepted the challenge with gusto, unearthing oddities in the basement of the family’s home in the Hudson Valley, and foraging for foliage and flowers in the surrounding forest. — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026

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