odder; oddest
1
: differing markedly from the usual, ordinary, or accepted : peculiar
a very odd way to show gratitude
2
a
: not regular, expected, or planned
worked at odd jobs
b
: encountered or experienced from time to time : occasional
manages to get in some reading at odd moments
3
a
: being without a corresponding (see corresponding sense 1) mate
an odd shoe
b(1)
: left over after others are paired or grouped
came without his wife and thus turned out to be the odd guest at the party
(2)
: separated from a set or series
had in his possession only two or three odd volumes of the original 12-volume set
4
a
: being any of the integers (such as −3, −1, +1, and +3) that are not divisible by two without leaving a remainder
b
: marked by an odd number of units
needed two odd-length boards, one of three feet and one of five feet
c
: being a function (see function entry 1 sense 5a) such that f (−x) = −f (x) where the sign is reversed but the absolute value remains the same if the sign of the independent variable is reversed
5
a
: somewhat more than the indicated approximate quantity, extent, or degree
—usually used in combination
300-odd pages
b(1)
: left over as a remainder
had a few odd dollars left after paying his bills
(2)
: constituting a small amount
had some odd change in her pocket
6
: having an out-of-the-way location : remote
found it in some odd corner of the house
oddness
noun
Articles Related to odd
Cite this Entry
“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/odd. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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