rarity
UK: ˈreərəti | US: ˈrerəti
n. the state or quality of being rare
n. something uncommon or unusual
n. (in science) a measure of how infrequently something occurs
The word "rarity" derives from the Latin raritas, meaning "thinness" or "infrequency," which itself comes from rarus (sparse, uncommon). The suffix "-ity" (from Latin -itas) transforms adjectives into nouns indicating a state or quality. Over time, "rare" evolved in English to describe scarcity or uniqueness, and "rarity" emerged to encapsulate the abstract concept of uncommonness.
The stamp's rarity makes it highly valuable to collectors.
Snow in this region is a rarity during winter.
Scientists study the rarity of certain genetic mutations.
Her kindness was a rarity in the competitive industry.
The museum displayed a rarity—a perfectly preserved dinosaur egg.