peculiarity

noun

pe·​cu·​liar·​i·​ty pi-ˌkyül-ˈyer-ə-tē 

-ˈya-rə-;

-ˌkyü-lē-ˈer-ə-,

-ˈa-rə-

plural peculiarities

1

: the quality or state of being peculiar

2

: a distinguishing characteristic

3

: oddity, quirk

Synonyms

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

Examples of peculiarity in a Sentence

the peculiarity of his appearance

It is a peculiarity of the house that there is no front door.

her peculiarities as a writer

Scientists tried to explain some peculiarities in the results of the experiment.

Recent Examples on the Web

This Texas peculiarity is especially confounding to Democratic legislators in Sacramento and Springfield, who would never dream of allowing Republicans to do likewise in California and Illinois, states where Democrats have legislative supermajorities like the GOP does in Texas. —Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

But that’s a decline with some peculiarities. —Evan Clark, WWD, 6 Jan. 2025

Upcoming as part of Christie’s Important Watches Auction this month is a very interesting Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 5554, with some peculiarities to say the least. —Thomas Wojtowicz, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

The peculiarity of her perspective is just too distracting. —Melanie Anzidei, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for peculiarity

• angularity
• bipolarity
• capillarity
• cellularity
• circularity
• familiarity
• granularity
• insincerity
• insularity
• modularity
• osmolarity
• popularity

Kids Definition

peculiarity

noun

pe·​cu·​liar·​i·​ty pi-ˌkyül-ˈyar-ət-ē 

-ˌkyü-lē-ˈar-

plural peculiarities

1

: the quality or state of being peculiar

2

: something different or individual

3

: something odd or abnormal