odd

[ od ]

/ ɒd /

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adjective, odd·er, odd·est.

differing in nature from what is ordinary, usual, or expected: His ice cream had an odd choice of topping combinations.

singular or peculiar in a strange or eccentric way: She can be an odd person sometimes.The group were known for their odd manners.

fantastic; bizarre: Her taste in clothing was rather odd.

leaving a remainder of 1 when divided by 2, as a number (opposed to even): Numbers like 3, 15, and 181 are odd numbers.

more or less, especially a little more (used in combination with a round number): I owe three hundred-odd dollars.

being a small amount in addition to what is counted or specified: I have five gross and a few odd dozens.

being part of a pair, set, or series of which the rest is lacking: an odd glove.

remaining after all others are paired, grouped, or divided into equal numbers or parts: Everybody gets two hamburgers and I get the odd one.

left over after all others are used, consumed, etc.

(of a pair) not matching: Do you know you're wearing an odd pair of socks?

not forming part of any particular group, set, or class: to pick up odd bits of information.

not regular, usual, or full-time; occasional; casual: odd jobs.

out-of-the-way; secluded: We took a tour to the odd parts of the country.

Mathematics. (of a function) having a sign that changes when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.

noun

something that is odd.

Golf.

a stroke more than the opponent has played.
British. a stroke taken from a player's total score for a hole in order to give them odds.

OTHER WORDS FOR odd

1 extraordinary, unusual, rare, uncommon.

See synonyms for odd on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR odd

1 ordinary, usual, common.

See antonyms for odd on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of odd

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English odde, from Old Norse oddi “odd (number)”

synonym study for odd

1. See strange.

OTHER WORDS FROM odd

oddly, adverboddness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH odd

ad, add, odd

Other definitions for odd (2 of 2)

ODD

[ oh-dee-dee ]

/ ˈoʊˈdiˈdi /

abbreviation, noun

oppositional defiant disorder: a behavioral disorder characterized by habitual aggression and hostility, resistance to authority, outbursts of rage, etc., that interfere with normal functioning and relationships.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use odd in a sentence

The scene between getaway cab driver Esmeralda Villalobos (Angela Jones) and Butch is one of the oddest in Pulp Fiction.
The Secrets of ‘Pulp Fiction’: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Movie on Its 20th Anniversary|Marlow Stern|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this could wind up being the oddest confrontation of all.
Exclusive: Chiquita Is Blocking a 9/11 Victims’ Bill|Tim Mak|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A look at the ursine baby trend—and where it falls among the list of the year's oddest monikers.
Kate Winslet’s Bear Rocknroll & Other Crazy Celebrity Baby Names of 2013|Pamela Redmond Satran/Nameberry|December 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It was the oddest thing that ever happened to me in my life.
America’s Cassandra: David Mamet Speaks on the Lies of Obama and War|Lloyd Grove|November 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The Oscar winner talks about his oddest jobs, his cooking hobby, James Bond—and taming lions.
Christopher Walken on ‘Seven Psychopaths,’ Natalie Wood, & More|Marlow Stern|October 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Davy walked through the door-way and found himself in the oddest-looking little country place that could possibly be imagined.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
The bundle when it was unrolled was found to contain some of the oddest-looking balls of yarn that ever were seen.
The Story of the Big Front Door|Mary Finley Leonard
Another contributory source to this oddest freak of my life was the terms on which I had returned to the college.
In Accordance with the Evidence|Oliver Onions
But the oddest thing to us are the bunches of fungi, tawny-coloured, piled up in heaps, and evidently very popular!
Round the Wonderful World|G. E. Mitton
The fourth member of our feathered quartette was the oddest of all.
Birds of the Rockies|Leander Sylvester Keyser

British Dictionary definitions for odd

odd

/ (ɒd) /

adjective

unusual or peculiar in appearance, character, etc

occasional, incidental, or randomodd jobs

leftover or additionalodd bits of wool

not divisible by two
represented or indicated by a number that is not divisible by twographs are on odd pages Compare even 1 (def. 7)

being part of a matched pair or set when the other or others are missingan odd sock; odd volumes

(in combination) used to designate an indefinite quantity more than the quantity specified in round numbersfifty-odd pounds

out-of-the-way or secludedodd corners

maths (of a function) changing sign but not absolute value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y=x³See even 1 (def. 13)

odd man out a person or thing excluded from others forming a group, unit, etc

noun

golf

one stroke more than the score of one's opponent
an advantage or handicap of one stroke added to or taken away from a player's score

a thing or person that is odd in sequence or number

Derived forms of odd

oddly, adverboddness, noun

Word Origin for odd

C14: odde: from Old Norse oddi point, angle, triangle, third or odd number. Compare Old Norse oddr point, spot, place; Old English ord point, beginning

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

Scientific definitions for odd

odd

[ ŏd ]

Divisible by 2 with a remainder of 1, such as 17 or -103.