oddity

/ˈɒdəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑːdəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈä-də-tē/ (ame, mw)

oddity — noun

  • odditysingular
  • odditiesplural

1. a person, thing, or habit that stands out as strange compared with what is usual

1.名詞C1
釋義

a person, thing, or habit that stands out as strange compared with what is usual around them

例句

Among modern cafés, Anong's wooden teahouse was a charming oddity on the busy street.

a + adjective + oddity for a strange but appealing thing

The old clock with thirteen numbers was the prized oddity in Arjun's collection.

the oddity in + a collection

同義詞
  • curiosity

    more positive; suggests something interesting because it is unusual

  • rarity

    stresses that the thing is hard to find rather than strange in nature

  • quirk

    usually a small unusual habit or feature, not a whole person or object

文法句型

be a real oddity

an oddity in + group/collection

a bit of an oddity

用法筆記

Subject is typically a person, object, or habit that the speaker finds unusual but not bad. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the thing itself, not the quality of being strange.

常見錯誤

❌He has the oddity of arriving late.
✅He has the odd habit of arriving late.
💡'oddity' usually names a strange thing or person, not a personal habit; use 'odd habit' or 'quirk' for habits.

2. the fact or quality of being clearly different from what people usually see or e

2.名詞C1
釋義

the fact or quality of being clearly different from what people usually see or expect

例句

Sivan was struck by the oddity of an empty stadium during a championship match.

the oddity of + noun phrase

The article discusses the oddity of having snow in the desert town.

formal use in writing or analysis

同義詞
  • strangeness

    everyday equivalent; less formal and slightly stronger in feel

  • peculiarity

    often used when describing the special character of a place or custom

  • eccentricity

    usually applies to people's behaviour rather than situations

反義詞
  • normality

    the state of being ordinary or expected

文法句型

the oddity of + noun phrase

notice the oddity of + situation

comment on the oddity of + behaviour

用法筆記

Frequently follows 'the' and is followed by 'of' + a situation or behaviour, often in writing or careful speech. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense focuses on the strangeness itself, not on a particular strange thing.