sui generis

adjective

ˌsü-ˌī-ˈje-nə-rəs How to pronounce sui generis (audio)
Definition of sui generisnext
as in only
being the one or ones of a class with no other members among history's greats Leonardo da Vinci is often considered sui generis—a man of such stupendous genius that the world may never see his like again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sui generis That seems to be the essence of appreciating the sui generis charms of this place. — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026 Lisa McGee broke through with a sui generis comedy that mined aspects of her own experience to find authentic humor in a harrowing situation. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026 Together, multi-instrumentalists Marc Riordan and Jon Leland craft a sui generis anachronism, hellbent on lovingly refracting the century-old sound through a contemporary prism. — Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026 Her writing plays according to very strong internal rules—the aesthetic is really regulated and, in many ways, sui generis. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sui generis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sui generis
  1. only
  2. one
  3. lone
  4. special
Adjective
  • Family villas add room to spread out, and the kids’ pool is thoughtfully zoned away from the adults-only areas.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Five forces, no clear strategy The legal framework is not the only concern about Bukele’s strategy.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of only
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    — SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Definition of one
Adjective
  • Messina made the runoff by capitalizing on his status as the lone conservative in the race.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Julius Randle had 21 points and 11 rebounds against his former team for the Nets (1-6), who earned their lone victory Sunday at Indiana and made a good push for two in a row before faltering in the fourth.
    — CBS New York Team, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of lone
Adjective
  • Provided by Hailey Gibbons Women have faced resistance from the military community in serving in combat roles and trying out for special operations, and that's still the case.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Ricketts won a special election in 2024 to complete Sasse’s term.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of special

Browse Nearby Words

suiciding
sui generis
suing
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Cite this Entry

“Sui generis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sui%20generis. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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