singular

adjective

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sin·gu·lar | \ ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər

Definition of singular

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : of or relating to a separate person or thing : individual

b : of, relating to, or being a word form denoting one person, thing, or instance a singular noun

c : of or relating to a single instance or to something considered by itself

2 : distinguished by superiority : exceptional an artist of singular attainments

3 : being out of the ordinary : unusual on the way home we had a singular adventure

4 : departing from general usage or expectation : peculiar, odd the air had a singular chill

5a of a matrix : having a determinant equal to zero

b of a linear transformation : having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero

singular

noun

Definition of singular (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the singular number, the inflectional form denoting it, or a word in that form

2 : a singular term

Other Words from singular Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing singular Learn More About singular

Choose the Right Synonym for singular

Adjective

strange, singular, unique, peculiar, eccentric, erratic, odd, quaint, outlandish mean departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected. strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable. a journey filled with strange sights singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness. a singular feeling of impending disaster unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel. a career unique in the annals of science peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness. the peculiar status of America's First Lady eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior. the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating. a friend's suddenly erratic behavior odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected. an odd sense of humor quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness. a quaint fishing village outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric. outlandish fashions of the time

Examples of singular in a Sentence

Adjective In the phrase “his car is red,” the word “car” is a singular noun. He had a singular appearance.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Yanya has a singular voice—a disarming rasp that turns every note into a smoldering ember—and her restless pop-rock songs circle her feelings of emptiness and inadequacy. — Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2022 Celia taught me that having a singular, particular voice is a gift. — Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2022 The life-size bust sits on a pedestal just inside the lobby of American skiing’s headquarters in Park City, Utah, a solitary bronze celebration of a singular figure in the sport. — New York Times, 5 Feb. 2022 For a show about a singular figure, its team spirit stands out. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 27 Oct. 2021 The crowds were smaller at Annapolis, though the same picture of America’s singular figure on parade applied. — Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2021 Of course, a no-hitter is still both an accomplishment uniquely singular and collective, especially when the Mets are the ones throwing it. — Jerry Beach, Forbes, 1 June 2022 Their material was too weird, too singular to mesh with a network show. — Mike Postalakis, SPIN, 25 May 2022 Waterston and Sam Fragoso, a close friend and collaborator of Bravo’s who contributed voiceover, commented on her exacting, singular, consistent visual style, from her very first short, Eat (2011), to her most recent for Miu Miu. — Eliza Harper Wallace, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The former's singular, PEN/Faulkner Award-winning novel Behold the Dreamers concerns the collapse of Lehman Brothers; the latter has written three books centered largely on Pan-American communities. — Seija Rankin, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2021 But the Jazz found the convincing means by which to keep the former singular and the latter plural, getting a second huge victory in three days. — Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Aug. 2020 See More

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