peculiarity
[ pi-kyoo-lee-ar-i-tee, -kyool-yar- ]
/ pɪˌkyʊ liˈær ɪ ti, -kyulˈyær- /
noun, plural pe·cu·li·ar·i·ties.
a trait, manner, characteristic, or habit that is odd or unusual.
oddity; singularity; eccentricity.
a distinguishing quality or characteristic.
the quality or condition of being peculiar.
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RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
peculate, peculation, peculiar, peculiar institution, peculiar people, peculiarity, peculiarize, peculium, pecuniary, pecuniary advantage, pecunious
Origin of peculiarity
SYNONYMS FOR peculiarity
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for peculiarity
British Dictionary definitions for peculiarity
peculiarity
/ (pɪˌkjuːlɪˈærɪtɪ) /
noun plural -ties
a strange or unusual habit or characteristic
a distinguishing trait, etc that is characteristic of a particular person; idiosyncrasy
the state or quality of being 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
Word Origin and History for peculiarity
peculiarity
c.1600, "exclusive possession;" 1640s, "special characteristic," from peculiar + -ity, or else from Latin peculiaritas. Meaning "an oddity" is attested by 1777. Related: Peculiarities.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper