sui generis

[soo-i ge-ne-ris, soo-ahy jen-er-is, soo-ee]

adjective

Latin.

1. of his, her, its, or their own kind; unique.

sui generis

/ ˌsuːaɪ ˈdʒɛnərɪs /

adjective

1. unique

sui generis

1. A person or thing that is unique, in a class by itself: “She is an original artist; each of her paintings is sui generis.” From Latin, meaning “of its own kind.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sui generis¹

Latin, literally: of its own kind

Example Sentences

Mr. Richardson’s explication of these sui generis novels is astute and highly welcome.

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She thought of the sui generis Hixby’s guidebook, the fictitious Judge Quinzy, and the mysterious danger Miss Mortimer had warned her about.

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If Hungary’s strongman prime minister, Viktor Orbán, remains firmly tethered to the Trumpist right and the cosplay intellectuals of the “national conservative” movement, he also looks to be sui generis in several ways.

Read more on Salon

It made him singular, but perhaps unintentionally it makes him look less sui generis than lonely.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was, however, an original, with a sui generis style both intense and charming.

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Related Words

• bizarre 
• extraordinary 
• fantastic 
• miraculous 
• new 
• remarkable 
• singular 
• uncommon 
• unheard-of 
• unique 
• unparalleled 
• unrivaled 
• unusual