singularity

American  

[sing-gyuh-lar-i-tee] / ˌsɪŋ gyəˈlær ɪ ti /

noun

singularities plural

1. the state, fact, or quality of being singular.

2. a singular, unusual, or unique quality; peculiarity.

3. Mathematics. singular point.

4. Astronomy. (in general relativity) the mathematical representation of a black hole.

5. Also called technological singularity.  Usually the singularity a hypothesized future era or event when exponential improvements in computer intelligence and advances in technology will result in an acute change in human society and evolution.

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singularity British  

/ ˌsɪŋɡjʊˈlærɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state, fact, or quality of being singular

2. something distinguishing a person or thing from others

3. something remarkable or unusual

4. maths

   1. a point at which a function is not differentiable although it is differentiable in a neighbourhood of that point See also pole 2

   2. another word for discontinuity

5. astronomy a hypothetical point in space-time at which matter is infinitely compressed to infinitesimal volume

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singularity Scientific  

/ sĭng′gyə-lăr′ĭ-tē /

1. A point of infinite density and infinitesimal volume, at which space and time become infinitely distorted according to the theory of General Relativity. According to the big bang theory, a gravitational singularity existed at the beginning of the universe. Singularities are also believed to exist at the center of black holes.

2. Mathematics A point at which the derivative does not exist for a given function but every neighborhood of which contains points for which the derivative exists.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsingularity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of singularity

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English singularite, from Middle French singularité or Late Latin singulāritās (stem singulāritāt- ); see origin at singular, -ity

Explanation

The singularity of something is a quality that's unusual or unique. You might note the singularity of your best friend's personal style, which involves mixing plaid with polka dots and wearing colorful top hats. You can use the noun singularity when something is literally "one of a kind," like your grandmother's strange macrame wall art, or to mean exceptional or striking, like your nephew's bright red hair. He stands out among the other kindergartners, so his hair has a singularity, though he's not the only red-headed kid in the world. The Latin root is singularis, which means "single or solitary."

Example Sentences

Their measurements clearly showed the predicted power-law growth close to the singularity as well as the exponential decay farther away.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

Your TV and smartphone are far more interoperable and indistinguishable than ever before, and an inescapable user-tracking singularity is developing, accordingly, in your own living room.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

Son had grown obsessed with the singularity, the hypothetical moment where AI becomes smarter than humans and transforms civilization, and was dreaming up ideas such as building AI-powered robot factories across the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

"If you look at sports that are growing in this country, it's basketball, it's NFL, it's mixed martial arts and there's a singularity to a lot of those brands," he adds.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2025

The universe and everything in it could collapse into a massive singularity, or it could initiate another Big Bang, a new beginning to the universe.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• particularity
• uniqueness