peculiar

[pi-kyool-yer]

adjective

1. strange; queer; odd.

   peculiar happenings.

   Synonyms: bizarre, eccentric

2. uncommon; unusual.

   the peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting bats.

   Synonyms: exceptional, singular, extraordinary
   Antonyms: common

3. distinctive in nature or character from others.

4. belonging characteristically (usually followed byto ).

   an expression peculiar to Canadians.

5. belonging exclusively to some person, group, or thing.

   the peculiar properties of a drug.

   Synonyms: unique, special, particular, personal, individual
   Antonyms: common

6. Astronomy.,  designating a star or galaxy with special properties that deviates from others of its spectral type or galaxy class.

noun

1. a property or privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.

2. British.,  a particular parish or church that is exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop in whose diocese it lies and is governed by another.

3. Also called arbitraries. British Printing.,  peculiars. special characters not generally included in standard type fonts, as phonetic symbols, mathematical symbols, etc.

peculiar

/ pɪˈkjuːlɪə /

adjective

1. strange or unusual; odd

   a peculiar individual

   a peculiar idea

2. distinct from others; special

3. belonging characteristically or exclusively (to)

   peculiar to North America

noun

1. Also called: arbitrary. printing a special sort, esp an accented letter

2. Church of England a church or parish that is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose diocese it lies

Other Word Forms

• peculiarly adverb
• unpeculiar adjective
• unpeculiarly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of peculiar¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Latin pecūliāris “as one's own,” equivalent to pecūli(um) “property” (derivative of pecū “flock, farm animals”; akin to pecus “cattle” ( fee )) + -āris -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of peculiar¹

C15: from Latin pecūliāris concerning private property, from pecūlium, literally: property in cattle, from pecus cattle

Synonym Study

See strange.

Example Sentences

The mood at Spurs has been peculiar this summer.

From BBC

He said: "A lot of young people play the piano, that's not peculiar at all. But having a young person play the organ... it's really unheard of."

From BBC

It was a peculiar spectacle, the British prime minister being welcomed as guest in his own country.

From BBC

Each dress also came with a bulky mic pack that — in an endearingly peculiar costuming choice — Ross opted to wear on her waist instead of hiding it around back.

From Los Angeles Times

And this is before we consider America’s “peculiar institution”: slavery.

From Salon

Related Words

• curious 
• eccentric 
• extraordinary 
• funny 
• idiosyncratic 
• offbeat 
• outlandish 
• quaint 
• singular 
• strange 
• unconventional 
• unusual 
• wacky 
• weird 
• wonderful