uniqueness

American  

[yoo-neek-nis] / yuˈnik nɪs /

noun

1. the quality of being unlike anything else of its kind or of being solitary in type or characteristics.

   Owing to its physical and behavioral uniqueness, the osprey is classified in its own family.

2. the quality of being unequaled, incomparable, or unusual.

   Critics are praising the uniqueness of her performance art.

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Other Word Forms

• nonuniqueness noun

Etymology

Origin of uniqueness

First recorded in 1800–05; unique ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

"There's a bright band, then nothing, bright band, nothing. No other pulsar shows this kind of striation. That uniqueness made the Crab Pulsar especially interesting -- and challenging -- to understand."

From Science Daily

Senators will vociferously defend them by invoking the tradition and uniqueness of the Senate.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is a place unlike any other in L.A., where customers can imagine sartorial possibilities that reflect back the uniqueness of our city’s inhabitants.

From Los Angeles Times

"All of us engaged in international cooperation can sense that awareness of Iceland's uniqueness, and of its strong position and interests... has changed dramatically," the prime minister said.

From Barron's

"Those plants have been preserved with us, and that underscores their uniqueness: if we lose them, we won't be able to restore them," Ivannikov said.

From Barron's