oddball

[ od-bawl ]

/ ˈɒdˌbɔl /

Informal.

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See synonyms for: oddball / oddballs on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person or thing that is atypical, bizarre, eccentric, or nonconforming, especially one having beliefs that are unusual but harmless.

adjective

whimsically free-spirited; eccentric; atypical: an oddball scheme.

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TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

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What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of oddball

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; odd + ball¹

Words nearby oddball

odah, odalisque, Oda Nobunaga, O'Day, odd, oddball, odd couple, odd-even check, Odd Fellow, oddish, oddity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use oddball in a sentence

If you’re unconvinced, or you want to take a shot on some oddball supplement that you think might actually work, we here at PopSci at least want you to be safe doing it.
There are only two supplements proven to help you build muscle|empire|July 9, 2021|Popular-Science
This oddball new specimen may help correct the skewed impression that sneaky invasive arrivals are rare.
Focusing on Asian giant hornets distorts the view of invasive species|Susan Milius|July 1, 2021|Science News
Look, 2020 was an oddball season in Phoenix, missing Brittney Griner for most of it, but the Mercury finished last in the league on the boards, so whoever they get once they finally pick at 32 probably should address that shortcoming.
What Each WNBA Team Needs From This Year’s Draft|Howard Megdal|April 14, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Machado’s unusually long tenure at Burger King allowed him to become a champion of zany, oddball marketing.
Marketing Briefing: How Fernando Machado’s long tenure at Burger King ‘absolutely broke the trend’|Kristina Monllos|April 6, 2021|Digiday

Austin Abrams and Midori Francis play the title characters, two oddball old souls who flirt from afar after he finds a notebook she left behind at a bookstore and strikes up a correspondence.
The New Class of Comfort TV: 16 Shows to Watch When You Run Out of Friends and The Office|Eliana Dockterman|February 10, 2021|Time
And with a multi-facetted oddball like John Lurie, most deservedly so.
The Gods of Punk Are Back in New York City|Anthony Haden-Guest|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last year, Chappelle spent an evening on the Oddball Comedy Tour in Hartford, Conn., being heckled and booed off stage.
Dave Chappelle’s Triumphant Return to New York City|Alex Suskind|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The exception was this oddball panel entitled, “Risking it All: Why Championship Athletes Dope and What it Means for Sport.”
Maybe We Should Just Legalize Steroids for Pro Athletes|Robert Silverman|March 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These oddball questions will have you pondering life, luck, and pizza delivery men.
Can You Answer These 10 Oddball Job Interview Questions Asked at America’s Top Tech Companies?|Brian Ries|January 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before that it was just there—but it always had that oddball character.
Why Did Llewyn Davis’s Greenwich Village Disappear?|Andrew Romano|December 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Somewhere up in the house is this oddball Maxwell who hides out all the time.
The Fourth R|George Oliver Smith
His father, Vanneman Porter, had been an oddball in his own way, too.
By Proxy|Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for oddball

oddball

/ (ˈɒdˌbɔːl) informal /

noun

Also called: odd bod, odd fish a strange or eccentric person

adjective

strange or peculiar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

oddball

Origin of oddball

Words nearby oddball

Words related to oddball

How to use oddball in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for oddball