uniqueness

American  

[yoo-neek-nis] / yuˈnik nɪs /

noun

1. the quality of being unlike anything else of its kind or of being solitary in type or characteristics.

   Owing to its physical and behavioral uniqueness, the osprey is classified in its own family.

2. the quality of being unequaled, incomparable, or unusual.

   Critics are praising the uniqueness of her performance art.

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Other Word Forms

• nonuniqueness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of uniqueness

First recorded in 1800–05; unique ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Are you one of a kind? Then you must have some kind of uniqueness, some quality that makes you stand out from all the rest. When you break down the word uniqueness, it’s easy to see what it means. First you notice the word unique, which means “one of a kind.” Then you notice -ness, a common suffix that’s used to form nouns that refer to a state of being. Put it together and you get uniqueness, a noun used to describe that certain something that makes a person or thing uncommon or singular, like "the uniqueness of a famous opera singer’s voice."

Example Sentences

"Finland's cultural uniqueness has suddenly become a strength," she said.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

"There's a bright band, then nothing, bright band, nothing. No other pulsar shows this kind of striation. That uniqueness made the Crab Pulsar especially interesting -- and challenging -- to understand."

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

It is a place unlike any other in L.A., where customers can imagine sartorial possibilities that reflect back the uniqueness of our city’s inhabitants.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

"It was an interest in, and a real belief in, the quality and uniqueness of her practice, which is inseparable from who she is."

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

Oh, to have a bright blue tortoise—something that proclaimed my uniqueness to the world.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson