Rarity
/ˈræ.rə.ti/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe state or quality of being uncommon; infrequency or scarcity.
/ˈræ.rə.ti/
The state of being rare; infrequency.
The rarity of the artwork made it highly sought after by collectors.
💡 Simply: Rarity means something is not found very often. Like a special baseball card or a certain kind of flower that's hard to find.
👶 For kids: When something is a rarity, it means it's very unusual or not found very often.
More Examples
The museum showcased the rarity of the extinct Dodo bird.
His skill and his dedication made his success a rarity in his industry.
How It's Used
"The rarity of the first edition made it incredibly valuable."
"The rarity of the snow leopard makes it an endangered species."
Something that is rare or unusual; a curiosity.
/ˈræ.rə.ti/
Something rare or uncommon; a curiosity.
The museum's collection included many rarities from ancient civilizations.
💡 Simply: A rarity can also be a thing that's not easy to find. Like a super cool vintage toy or a time when everyone agrees on something!
👶 For kids: A rarity can be something special that's not found very often, like a special toy or a type of animal.
More Examples
A sighting of the elusive bird was a rarity for the local bird watchers.
The restaurant's willingness to stay open on Thanksgiving was a rarity in the neighborhood.
How It's Used
"The antique shop displayed several rarities from different eras."
"It's a rarity to find a restaurant open on Christmas Day."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
a rare bird
A person or thing that is unusual or remarkable.
"She's a rare bird; I've never met anyone so passionate about her work."
From Middle English *rarite*, from Old French *rarité*, from Latin *raritas* (“scarcity, thinness”), from *rarus* (“rare”).
The word 'rarity' has been used since the 14th century and initially denoted the state of being thin or sparse before evolving to mean 'uncommonness.'
Memory tip
Think of something that is rare to find, like a diamond or a specific bird.
Word Origin
"rare, infrequent, sparse"