peculiar

[pi-kyool-yer]

adjective

1. strange; queer; odd.

   peculiar happenings.

   Synonyms: bizarre, eccentric

2. uncommon; unusual.

   the peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting bats.

   Synonyms: exceptional, singular, extraordinary
   Antonyms: common

3. distinctive in nature or character from others.

4. belonging characteristically (usually followed byto ).

   an expression peculiar to Canadians.

5. belonging exclusively to some person, group, or thing.

   the peculiar properties of a drug.

   Synonyms: unique, special, particular, personal, individual
   Antonyms: common

6. Astronomy.,  designating a star or galaxy with special properties that deviates from others of its spectral type or galaxy class.

noun

1. a property or privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.

2. British.,  a particular parish or church that is exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop in whose diocese it lies and is governed by another.

3. Also called arbitraries. British Printing.,  peculiars. special characters not generally included in standard type fonts, as phonetic symbols, mathematical symbols, etc.

peculiar

/ pɪˈkjuːlɪə /

adjective

1. strange or unusual; odd

   a peculiar individual

   a peculiar idea

2. distinct from others; special

3. belonging characteristically or exclusively (to)

   peculiar to North America

noun

1. Also called: arbitrary. printing a special sort, esp an accented letter

2. Church of England a church or parish that is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose diocese it lies

Other Word Forms

• peculiarly adverb
• unpeculiar adjective
• unpeculiarly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of peculiar¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Latin pecūliāris “as one's own,” equivalent to pecūli(um) “property” (derivative of pecū “flock, farm animals”; akin to pecus “cattle” ( fee )) + -āris -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of peculiar¹

C15: from Latin pecūliāris concerning private property, from pecūlium, literally: property in cattle, from pecus cattle

Synonym Study

See strange.

Example Sentences

So the most peculiar puzzle was the slump in the price of bonds.

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A parody of a traditional newscast, the irreverent concept features dozens of peculiar puppets who populate the fictional town of Titirilquén.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Years later, Judge Michael J. Roche remarked, “I always felt there was something peculiar about that girl’s going to Japan when she did. I always thought she might have been up to something.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But given the heightened tone and elevated aesthetic of Mr. Bentley none of this sounds the least bit peculiar.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Eight times twelve is ninety-six! Do you recall that peculiar letter I sent you? Filled with pages about multiplication and ferns and so on?”

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• curious 
• eccentric 
• extraordinary 
• funny 
• idiosyncratic 
• offbeat 
• outlandish 
• quaint 
• singular 
• strange 
• unconventional 
• unusual 
• wacky 
• weird 
• wonderful