singular

adjective

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

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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

Glenelg girls lacrosse enters every season with a singular goal: state championship or bust. — Kyle Stackpole, Howard County Times, "Glenelg girls lacrosse wins second straight county title," 5 May 2018 The cemetery’s foundation is in control of programming, with a singular goal of helping visitors discover all the art, culture and beauty of not only the gravesites themselves, but the entire 270 acres of park-like grounds. — Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, "From Yoga to Movie Nights: How Cemeteries Are Trying to Attract the Living," 22 Mar. 2018 America’s failings are treated as singular, not its promise. — Edward Rothstein, WSJ, "A New Gateway to the West," 2 July 2018 The lens is singular and biased, and perhaps blind to any foreshadowing that would have created greater anticipation of the event. — Chloe Schama, Vogue, "Theater Can Be Dishearteningly Inaccessible. Carey Mulligan’s Devastating New Play Is Changing That.," 27 June 2018 Bruno Mars is the most obvious, and singular, exception to this trend. — Dj Louie Xiv, Vanities, "Has 2018 Killed the Pop Star?," 22 June 2018 But that simple, straightforward term for something singular and wonderful beyond expectations is perhaps the best word to describe U2's Monday (June 11) night concert at the incomparable Apollo Theater in Harlem. — Joe Lynch, Billboard, "U2 Brings Out the Sun Ra Arkestra, Pays Tribute to Anthony Bourdain at Legendary Apollo Theater," 13 June 2018 The term pentas is used as the singular and plural form. — Dan Gill, NOLA.com, "What is the proper name for Pentas?," 24 Feb. 2018 Diplomats say Trump's singular focus on the 2 percent benchmark might be counterproductive. — Gregory Korte, USA TODAY, "As he arrives at NATO summit, President Trump hounds allies over 'delinquent' defense spending," 10 July 2018

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.