peculiarity

American  

[pi-kyoo-lee-ar-i-tee, -kyool-yar-] / pɪˌkyʊ liˈær ɪ ti, -kyulˈyær- /

noun

plural

peculiarities

1. a trait, manner, characteristic, or habit that is odd or unusual.

   Synonyms:

   idiosyncrasy

2. oddity; singularity; eccentricity.

   Synonyms:

   irregularity

3. a distinguishing quality or characteristic.

4. the quality or condition of being peculiar.

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peculiarity British  

/ pɪˌkjuːlɪˈærɪtɪ /

noun

1. a strange or unusual habit or characteristic

2. a distinguishing trait, etc that is characteristic of a particular person; idiosyncrasy

3. the state or quality of being peculiar

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Related Words

See eccentricity. See feature.

Etymology

Origin of peculiarity

First recorded in 1600–10; from Late Latin pecūliāritās “private property, special care,” a derivative of pecūliāris peculiar + -itas -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

Both earth signs, the two laugh at the peculiarities they noticed within each other upon first meeting.

From Los Angeles Times

But owing to the peculiarities of AI’s large language models, SEO practitioners have had to adopt new strategies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet wrapped up in his peculiarity has been a knack for rubbing America’s face in realities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Really, all of the peculiarities of the book serve to balance the scope and the tenderness and somehow suspend it all into mystery.

From Los Angeles Times

There, Erikson teased out the stealthy, almost sinister peculiarities of modern man-made hazards, like radioactivity and toxicity, and their special, traumatic effects.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• distinctiveness
• eccentricity
• foible
• idiosyncrasy
• particularity
• quirk
• trait