Odd
/ɒd/
Definitions
3 meaningsA number that is not divisible by two without a remainder.
/ɒd/
Not divisible by two; a number that has a remainder of 1 when divided by 2.
1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are odd numbers.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're sharing toys. If you have an odd number of toys, like 3, you can't split them equally between two friends – one will always get more! Odd numbers don't divide neatly in half.
👶 For kids: A number that's not even. It can't be split into two equal groups.
More Examples
The sum of two odd numbers is always even.
We're studying odd and even numbers in math class today.
How It's Used
"3, 5, and 7 are odd numbers."
Different from what is usual or normal; strange.
/ɒd/
Unusual or strange; different from what is normal or expected.
It was an odd coincidence that they both arrived at the same time.
💡 Simply: Think of someone wearing mismatched socks – that's odd! It means something isn't what you'd typically see or expect.
👶 For kids: Something that's a little bit weird or strange.
More Examples
He had an odd way of walking.
She felt an odd sense of unease in the abandoned house.
How It's Used
"She has an odd sense of humor."
"His behavior was very odd."
Being the amount left over after something else has been removed or dealt with.
/ɒd/
Remaining after other things have been counted or taken away.
He was selling off odd pieces of furniture to make room for new items.
💡 Simply: Imagine you bought a box of cookies, but then someone ate some. If you have an odd number of cookies left, it means you didn't buy enough to share perfectly!
👶 For kids: The extra bit that's left over.
More Examples
She had an odd number of coins in her purse after buying groceries.
There are always odd jobs to be done around the house.
How It's Used
"The company had an odd lot of shares to sell."
Idioms & expressions
odds and ends
Small, unimportant items of various kinds; miscellaneous things.
"I need to clear out all the odds and ends from the garage."
against all odds
Despite all the difficulties or unfavorable circumstances; despite the apparent impossibility of success.
"Against all odds, she managed to win the competition."
From Old Norse *odd(i)* meaning 'point of a weapon, triangle, odd number'. Its use to describe a number not divisible by two came later, and then generalized to mean strange or unusual.
Used in Middle English, initially with a numerical sense related to the single unit remaining after division, then evolved to encompass the meaning of strangeness.
Memory tip
Think of 'one' extra. An odd number has a single unit left over.
Word Origin
"point, triangle; odd (number)"