peculiar

peculiar — adjective

1. noticeably different from what is normal, so that it seems strange and may make

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

noticeably different from what is normal, so that it seems strange and may make you feel slightly uneasy.

Example

Everyone thought it was peculiar that the shop stayed open at midnight.

it is peculiar that + clause

Mina gave me a peculiar smile, then hid the letter in her bag.

collocation: peculiar smile

Common collocations
  • peculiar smell
  • peculiar noise
  • peculiar smile
  • it is peculiar that
  • find it peculiar
Synonyms
  • strange

    the nearest everyday word; less formal than 'peculiar'

  • odd

    often suggests something puzzling rather than strongly alarming

  • weird

    more informal and often stronger in tone

Antonyms
  • normal

    matching what people usually expect

  • ordinary

    not special, surprising, or out of place

Grammar Patterns

it is peculiar that + clause

find it peculiar that + clause

Usage Note

Often used in the patterns 'it is peculiar that ...' and 'find it peculiar that ...'. Compared with sense 2, this sense focuses on oddness or discomfort, not on something being special to one place or person.

Common Mistakes

I was peculiar by the noise from the attic.
The noise from the attic sounded peculiar to me.
'peculiar' describes the thing that seems strange, not the person who notices it.

2. existing only in a certain person, place, group, or thing, rather than being sha

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

existing only in a certain person, place, group, or thing, rather than being shared more widely.

Example

This bright blue butterfly is peculiar to the mountain forests of Taiwan.

peculiar to + place

The sharp smell is peculiar to this cheese and disappears after cooking.

peculiar to + thing

Common collocations
  • peculiar to Taiwan
  • peculiar to this species
  • peculiar to my uncle
  • a feature peculiar to
  • songs peculiar to
Synonyms
  • characteristic

    describes a typical feature; not always exclusive in the same strong way

  • distinctive

    emphasises a quality that helps something stand out

  • unique

    stronger; suggests one of a kind rather than simply limited to a group

Antonyms
  • common

    shared by many people, places, or things

  • general

    not limited to one special case

Grammar Patterns

peculiar to + noun

Usage Note

Most often follows the noun with 'to', especially in academic or descriptive writing. Distinguish from sense 1: here the idea is that something belongs only to that person, place, or type, not that it seems odd.

Common Mistakes

This bird is peculiar in Taiwan.
This bird is peculiar to Taiwan.
use 'peculiar to' when something is found only in one place, group, or thing.
Idioms

funny peculiar

idiom

This phrase is used to clarify that 'funny' means strange, not humorous.

When I said the soup tasted funny, I meant funny peculiar.

Did you mean funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?

Word family

  • peculiarly
    adverbC1
  • peculiarity
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For sense 1, peculiar is close to strange, but it often sounds a little more thoughtful or descriptive. Strange is the broad everyday choice. Odd often suggests something small but puzzling, such as an odd smell or an odd remark. Weird is more informal and usually stronger, often carrying surprise or unease. Eccentric is different again: it is mainly used for a person's unusual habits or style, especially when they behave in a colorful or unconventional way. You might say 'There was a peculiar noise in the hall' if the sound felt unusual, but 'Our neighbor is eccentric' if his daily behavior seems unusually individual.

strange ↗odd ↗weird ↗eccentric ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite peculiar
  • rather peculiar

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

English got peculiar through French from Latin peculiaris, a word meaning 'private' or 'belonging to one person'. That older idea of something being specially attached to one owner later developed into the modern senses 'special to one thing' and 'strange in a way that stands out'.