rarity

noun rar·i·ty \ ˈrer-ə-tē \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of rarity

plural rarities

1 : the quality, state, or fact of being rare

2 : one that is rare

See rarity defined for English-language learners

See rarity defined for kids

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 of rarity from the Web

But for the Orioles offense — which has sputtered at Camden Yards this season — to be grinding for their first hit of the game in the eighth inning for the second time in 12 games this season is also a rarity.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles get second no-hit scare in season's first 12 games," 11 Apr. 2018
Foreign bosses are a rarity in Japan, but Takeda’s head, Christophe Weber, is French.

— The Economist, "Takeda eyes up Shire," 5 Apr. 2018
As time wears on, more and more motorcars turn up, until horses are a rarity.

— david wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle, "Stunning new ‘Howards End’ connects with social change," 4 Apr. 2018
The auto sector is a rarity among big industries in its level of sales disclosure.

— mike colias and adrienne roberts, WSJ, "GM Scraps a Standard in Sales Reporting," 3 Apr. 2018
So is much of the rest of this intimate, transporting production, though the level of Mr. Jaramillo’s acting is a rarity.

— laura collins-hughes, New York Times, "Review: Betting on a Rooster in ‘No One Writes to the Colonel’," 2 Apr. 2018
Since last fall, the students and staff at St. John Fisher School in Beverly have enjoyed something that is a rarity in Chicago Catholic Schools these days.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "St. John Fisher elementary school has medical clinic thanks to Saint Xavier University nursing students," 29 Mar. 2018
Franco was a rarity in Brazilian politics: a powerful black woman.

— anthony faiola and marina lopes, Washington Post, "A black female politician was gunned down in Rio. Now she’s a global symbol.," 19 Mar. 2018
Arlington last year was a rarity in terms of winning it.

— chris bokum, BostonGlobe.com, "Sixteen years later, a Garden party for Hawks," 19 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rarity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of rarity

1542

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

rarity Synonyms

RARITY Defined for English Language Learners

rarity

noun

Definition of rarity for English Language Learners

: a person or thing that is not common or usual : a person or thing that is not seen or does not happen often
: something that is valuable because there are few of its kind
: the quality of being rare