oddity
UK: ˈɒdɪti | US: ˈɑːdɪti
n. a strange or unusual person, thing, or quality
n. the state or quality of being odd
The word "oddity" combines "odd," derived from Old Norse "oddi" (meaning "point of a weapon" or "triangle," later evolving to mean "uneven" or "unmatched"), with the suffix "-ity," which forms abstract nouns indicating a state or condition. Over time, "odd" shifted from describing numerical irregularity to general peculiarity, and "-ity" solidified its role in denoting abstract qualities. Thus, "oddity" literally means "the state of being odd," capturing both strangeness and uniqueness.
The museum displayed an oddity—a two-headed turtle preserved in glass.
His habit of collecting broken clocks was seen as an oddity by his neighbors.
The oddity of her laughter made everyone turn their heads.
In nature, albino animals are rare oddities.
The town’s annual festival celebrates local oddities and eccentric traditions.