oddball

noun

odd·​ball ˈäd-ˌbȯl How to pronounce oddball (audio)
: one that is eccentric
oddball adjective

Examples of oddball in a Sentence

He used to be a real oddball back in high school. she's known as the office oddball
Recent Examples on the Web Choose easily accessible destinations nearby, but consider a theme (historic libraries, giant statues, bizarre restaurants), or simply visit parks, lakes, and oddball roadside attractions, all of which offer room to roam. Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 Infrequent watering, oddball lighting, and cramped inventory are all working against these plants. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024 The mutant teammates regularly sold out at comic book shops, but no network executive wanted to take a chance on the oddball characters — until Margaret Loesch became president of Fox Kids. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 Are these movies furthering Black representation in their own oddball ways or embarrassing us with lowbrow clichés? Niela Orr, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 The oddball entries alternate with those whose familiarity is even more uncanny. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024 That spectacle is led with Scott Evan Guggenheim’s deft direction of his talented cast, with Ric Iverson’s turn as Springer achieving a nice balance of the television host’s befuddlement and sketchy inquiry of his oddball guests. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 In his newsletter highlighting oddball stories from around the state, Mr. Pittman does not include any about Floridians who have been involuntarily committed for psychiatric care or who are clearly suffering from addiction. Patricia Mazzei Jason Andrew, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 They were flooded with oddball luxury items—pouches, tote bags, and beach towels—priced at a fraction of, say, a leather purse. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oddball.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oddball was in 1948

Dictionary Entries Near oddball

Cite this Entry

“Oddball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oddball. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oddball

noun
odd·​ball -ˌbȯl How to pronounce oddball (audio)
: a person who behaves strangely

More from Merriam-Webster on oddball

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