oddity
gb/ˈɑdəti/ us/ˈɑdəti/
B2
English
furcsaság, különc, furabogár
NOUN
B2
1
furcsaság
B2
Usage pattern:
an oddity; an oddity in [something]
The museum has a few oddities, including a two-headed calf in a glass case.
A múzeumban van néhány furcsaság, köztük egy üvegvitrinben kiállított kétfejű borjú.
One oddity of the new app is that it logs you out every time you open another program.
Az új alkalmazás egyik furcsasága, hogy minden alkalommal kijelentkeztet, amikor megnyitsz egy másik programot.
It’s an oddity that the report includes last year’s numbers but not this year’s.
Learner examples
This old coin is an oddity.
Ez a régi érme igazi furcsaság.
There is an oddity in the results.
Van egy furcsaság az eredményekben.
Common mistake:
Do not use as an adjective: say “an odd thing,” not “an oddity thing.”
Meaning
an unusual or strange thing
Collocations
a curious oddity
|a minor oddity
|a small oddity
|a rare oddity
|a local oddity
|a historical oddity
|an oddity in the data
|an oddity of nature
|an oddity of the system
|an oddity of the design
Synonyms
peculiarity (Often suggests a distinctive feature, not necessarily very strange.)
|
quirk (Common for small, slightly amusing unusual features.)
|
anomaly (Often used for something that deviates from what is normal, especially in data or systems.)
Antonyms
normality (The condition of being usual or expected.)
|
convention (A standard or accepted way of doing things (the opposite of an unusual feature).)
Themes
daily_life
|describing_things
Definition
A thing that seems strange or unusual.
Something that is unusual, strange, or unexpected, especially in a way that attracts attention.
NOUN
C1
2
furcsaság
B2
Usage pattern:
the oddity of [something]
The oddity of the request made her hesitate before answering.
A kérés furcsasága miatt habozott, mielőtt válaszolt volna.
There was an oddity to his smile that she couldn’t quite explain.
Volt valami furcsaság a mosolyában, amit nem tudott igazán megmagyarázni.
Part of the film’s appeal is the oddity of its humor.
Learner examples
The oddity of the rule surprised me.
A szabály furcsasága meglepett.
Common mistake:
This use is less common than meaning 1; often “oddness” sounds more natural when you mean the quality.
Meaning
the quality of being unusual
Collocations
the oddity of the situation
|the oddity of it
|add to the oddity
|the sheer oddity
|a sense of oddity
|the oddity of the claim
|the oddity of the rule
|the oddity of the name
Synonyms
strangeness (More general and common for the quality of being strange.)
|
oddness (A very close synonym; often the most natural choice for the quality.)
Antonyms
ordinariness (The quality of being normal or not remarkable.)
|
familiarity (The quality of being well-known and unsurprising.)
Themes
describing_things
|evaluation
Definition
The fact that something is strange or unusual.
The quality or fact of being strange, unusual, or different from what is normal or expected.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
an oddity; the oddity of the group
In a town of bankers, he was treated as an oddity because he painted murals for a living.
Egy bankárokkal teli városban különcnek tartották, mert megélhetésből falfestményeket festett.
She’s a bit of an oddity at work—always cheerful on Monday mornings.
A munkahelyén egy kicsit különcnek számít: hétfő reggelenként mindig jókedvű.
They dismissed him as an oddity, but his ideas turned out to be useful.
Learner examples
He is seen as an oddity in his class.
Az osztályában különcnek tartják.
Common mistake:
This can sound dismissive; for a kinder tone, use “eccentric” or “quirky.”
Meaning
a strange or eccentric person
Collocations
a harmless oddity
|a lovable oddity
|the neighborhood oddity
|the office oddity
|regarded as an oddity
Synonyms
eccentric (Often more neutral or even positive than “oddity.”)
|
character (Informal; can be affectionate for an unusual person.)
Antonyms
conformist (A person who follows accepted social norms.)
|
everyday person (Someone ordinary and not unusual (informal paraphrase).)
Themes
people
|personality
Definition
A person who acts in a strange or unusual way.
A person who seems strange, eccentric, or different from others in a noticeable way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
oddity
IPA
GB/ˈɑdəti/
US/ˈɑdəti/
Syllables & stress
oddity (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (oddity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: oddity
- Plural: oddities, oddity
Word family
Expressions
an oddity in itself
1/ən ˈɑdəti ˈɪn ɪtsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
strange on its own
Strange even by itself.
Examples
- The fact that he answered at 3 a.m. is an oddity in itself.
- A summer snowstorm is an oddity in itself, but this one lasted for two days.
- The empty shelves were an oddity in itself, long before we learned about the supply problem.
Learner examples
- The name is an oddity in itself.
something of an oddity
1/sˈʌmθɪŋ əv ən ˈɑdəti/
fixed phrase
somewhat unusual person or thing
Used to say something is a little unusual.
Examples
- A vegan steakhouse is something of an oddity, but it’s surprisingly popular.
- He’s something of an oddity in the industry because he refuses to use social media.
- The building is something of an oddity, with no windows on the first floor.
Learner examples
- This café is something of an oddity.