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 As a result, what has traditionally been a rarity could become a lot less so. Julia Dhar, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 In an Instagram post before her next tour stop in Miami, Swift wore a $168 Polo Ralph Lauren pullover that was quite a rarity. Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024 There is truly not a weak link in the ensemble, which is a rarity even for the best shows. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024 Paleontologists on a Wyoming dig led by The Children's Museum have discovered a rarity: the almost intact snout of an allosaurus. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rarity 

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 31 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!