WordGarden.ioodd
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɒd/
US
- /ˈɑd/
Meanings
Adjective
strange, unusual, or not what is expected
not divisible by two
extra, remaining, or occurring only here and there rather than as part of a regular set
Beyond the definition
Something "odd" does not quite fit in. It feels different from what you expect. You might notice an odd sound in an empty house, an odd look on someone's face, or an odd habit that stands out. It can also describe one thing without its pair, like an odd sock, or a number like 3 or 5, which cannot be divided evenly by two. In everyday English, it often suggests something strange, unusual, or slightly out of place.
The word "odd" is often used for something that feels strange, unusual, or out of place. If a room suddenly goes quiet, if a person behaves in a way no one expects, or if one detail does not match the rest, you might call it odd. The word can be light and playful, as in "an odd little shop," or it can hint that something feels wrong, as in "an odd silence."
"Odd" also has some very common special uses. In math, odd numbers are numbers like 1, 3, 5, and 7 that are not divisible by two. In daily life, it can mean one item is left without a matching partner, like an odd glove or an odd sock. It can also mean occasional or extra, as in "odd jobs" or "odd moments," where the idea is that these small bits do not form a regular whole.
The meaning changes with context and tone. Sometimes it simply means "not usual." Sometimes it means "a bit suspicious" or "hard to explain." It can even be used with numbers in phrases like "thirty-odd people" or "twenty-odd years," meaning a little more than that number. Taken together, the word covers things that do not match, do not divide evenly, do not happen regularly, or simply do not seem quite normal.
Examples
- 1
Unusual smell
There was an odd smell in the kitchen.
- 2
Strange feeling
It felt odd to be back in my old school after so many years.
- 3
Unexpected silence
It's odd that she hasn't replied yet.
- 4
Suspicious reaction
He gave me an odd look when I asked about the missing file.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Number type
The code only accepts odd numbers like 1, 3, and 5.
- Domainodd number
a number that cannot be divided exactly by 2
- 6
Clothing
I left the house wearing two odd socks.
- Phraseodd socks
socks that do not match
- 7
Small jobs
She does odd jobs for neighbors on weekends.
- Phraseodd jobs
small jobs of different kinds
- 8
Occasional contact
We still get the odd email from old customers.
- Patternthe odd + singular noun
occasional, not regular
- 9
Group difference
In a group of professional dancers, I felt like the odd one out.
- Phrasethe odd one out
the person or thing that is different from the others
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- oddadjective
Forms
- oddestsuperlativeadjective
- oddercomparativeadjective