Curios: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically small, unique items collected for their rarity or unusual nature, often displayed in a cabinet or shelf.

• She had a cabinet filled with various curios collected during her travels

Something that is strange, unusual, or abnormal. Usually used to describe something that stands out for being different in a peculiar way.

• His habit of collecting insects was considered an oddity by his friends
• The town was known for its many oddities, including a two-headed calf

A strong desire to know or learn something. Can also refer to an unusual or interesting object.

• His curiosity about space led him to study astrophysics
• The shop sold many curiosities from different parts of the world

An object made by humans, often of historical or cultural interest, typically found in archaeological contexts.

• The museum's exhibit featured ancient artifacts from the Roman Empire

A historical object surviving from an earlier time, often having sentimental, religious, or cultural value.

• The church displayed relics of saints
• The old ruins were considered relics of the ancient civilization