rarity

noun

rar·​i·​ty ˈrer-ə-tē How to pronounce rarity (audio)
plural rarities
1
: the quality, state, or fact of being rare
2
: one that is rare

Examples of rarity in a Sentence

In most sports, athletes over the age of 50 are rarities. Snow is a rarity in this part of the world. He is selling most of his collection, keeping only the real rarities. The rarity of the disease makes it difficult to diagnose.
Recent Examples on the Web The glitzy gold rarity, which will go under the gavel at Goldin’s upcoming March Elite Sports Auction, commemorates the shooting guard’s first championship victory. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 The Notebook also has a moving and somewhat heartbreaking twist ending, which is a rarity for romance films. Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 What makes this solar eclipse particularly noteworthy is the scale of its impact and its rarity. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Having three eggs in a clutch is a rarity for eagles, and the feat has been widely celebrated. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 And those who didn’t know Noseda personally confirmed to me the rarity of such a warm welcome, let alone such a prolonged ovation. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 The rarity of Gila monster envenomation and low fatality rate may contribute to the lack of antivenom. Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 In a rarity for German films, Hnywood produced the €2.5 million ($2.7 million) pic sans regional or federal film funding, tapping instead private investors and venture capital. Ed Meza, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 While jewels that are mass-produced by global luxury brands are as easy to find and purchase as McDonald’s hamburgers, Cultus Artem’s one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewels give humans a more fundamental form of luxury, one that involves personal care, technical mastery and rarity. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rarity.' 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

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rarity was in 1542

Dictionary Entries Near rarity

Cite this Entry

“Rarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rarity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rarity

noun
rar·​i·​ty ˈrar-ət-ē How to pronounce rarity (audio)
ˈrer-
plural rarities
1
: the quality, state, or fact of being rare
2
: someone or something rare

More from Merriam-Webster on rarity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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