noun
-
an odd person or thing
-
an odd quality or characteristic
-
the condition of being odd
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of oddity
Explanation
An oddity is anything strange or unusual. Wearing ear muffs during a heat wave would be considered an oddity, because most people wouldn't do that. Anything odd is weird, strange, unusual, or bizarre. Oddities are things like that. Calling good friends "sir" would be an oddity, since that word is usually used in formal situations. Oddities can also be objects, especially unusual objects or souvenirs someone might collect.
Vocabulary lists containing oddity
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Superman and Me" and "A Smart Cookie/It's Our Story, Too"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Emma
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The couple has been active in L.A.’s goth/alternative music and event scene for years, co-creating the popular outdoor roller disco event Skate Oddity during the pandemic.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
Oddity also boosted its net revenue and adjusted earnings guidance for the full year.
From Barron's • Nov. 20, 2025
Take consumer-tech company Oddity, owner of beauty brands Il Makiage and SpoiledChild.
From Reuters • Oct. 5, 2023
Coleman also plays in Bandella, a rootsy-folk group comprised largely of former Nasa astronauts including Chris Hadfield, who famously performed Space Oddity while circling the Earth on the ISS.
From BBC • Oct. 15, 2021
Oddity had none, so he looked tranquil as usual.
From The Rambles of a Rat by A. L. O. E.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
