rarity

noun

rar·​i·​ty ˈrer-ə-tē 

plural rarities

1

: the quality, state, or fact of being rare

2

: one that is rare

Synonyms

• curio
• curiosity
• exotic
• objet d'art
• objet
• oddity
• oddment

Examples of rarity in a Sentence

In most sports, athletes over the age of 50 are rarities.

Snow is a rarity in this part of the world.

He is selling most of his collection, keeping only the real rarities.

The rarity of the disease makes it difficult to diagnose.

Recent Examples on the Web

Down 1-0 in the fifth with Crochet really dealing and Yankee hits a real rarity, Rojas has to send Dominguez home from second on LeMahieu’s single to right even though there were no outs. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 14 June 2025

While these instances are a rarity, the Burlington field office is equipped to facilitate a short-term stay when necessary. —Ben Adler, USA Today, 14 June 2025

Even for someone as used to handing rarities as Nguyen Dinh Tuan Viet, the first sight of the oldest bottle of whisky in the world was a moment to remember. —Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

Trevorrow closed the evening by reflecting on the rarity of comedy in theaters. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rarity

• charity
• clarity
• parity
• verity
• alterity
• asperity
• austerity
• celerity
• dexterity
• disparity
• hilarity
• molarity

Kids Definition

rarity

noun

rar·​i·​ty ˈrar-ət-ē 

ˈrer-

plural rarities

1

: the quality, state, or fact of being rare

2

: someone or something rare