oddity

noun

odd·​i·​ty ˈä-də-tē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
plural oddities
1
: an odd person, thing, event, or trait
2
: the quality or state of being odd

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of course, where there is an internet oddity, a meme usually follows — and gunless Bond was no exception. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025 With a roster of guests including Angela Bassett, Celia Weston, Grace Gummer, Danny Huston, and Neil Patrick Harris, this is when the series cemented its transition from cable oddity to a genuine drawing card in the entertainment industry. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025 There were masks and body suits made of female skin, along with human skulls for soup bowls and other disturbing oddities. Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025 The moons range from planet-sized Titan to smaller oddities, some of which are strangely shaped like potatoes or ravioli. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oddity

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oddity was in 1713

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oddity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oddity. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

oddity

noun
odd·​i·​ty ˈäd-ət-ē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
plural oddities
1
: something odd
2
: the quality or state of being odd

More from Merriam-Webster on oddity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!