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 of peculiarity

• trick
• characteristic
• trait
• quirk
• mannerism
• idiosyncrasy
• eccentricity
• singularity
• oddity
• habit

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

Tracking the beginning of their secret relationship through Thorpe’s 1979 trial, A Very English Scandal is a stellar lesson in how to use the miniseries format to tease out the bizarre peculiarities of real-life drama. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026

The peculiarity was simply too much to overlook. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

Adding to the peculiarity of the situation are the seven alarm clocks placed ever so carefully on his fireplace mantel. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Jan. 2026

Caillaux, by the way, is spelled C-A-I-L-L-A-U-X for those unfamiliar with the peculiarities of French pronunciation. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 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