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

Many astronauts talk about a profound appreciation of the uniqueness of Earth and that all humans share the planet together.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“The beauty and uniqueness of that first dining table really confirmed this new direction for us,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 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

"Those plants have been preserved with us, and that underscores their uniqueness: if we lose them, we won't be able to restore them," Ivannikov said.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

In New York we hear them so often bring up their treasured uniqueness.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck