Rarity: meaning, definitions and examples

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rarity

 

[ หˆrerษ™di ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in collecting items

The quality or state of being rare; infrequency; unusual occurrence.

Synonyms

infrequency, scarcity, uncommonness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rarity

Used when something is not only rare but also unique or special, often implying value or desirability.

  • Seeing a white deer in the wild is a true rarity
scarcity

Highlights a shortage or limited availability of something, often with an implication of demand.

  • The scarcity of water in the region has led to severe drought conditions
uncommonness

Describes something that is not common or not frequently encountered.

  • The uncommonness of the book makes it a prized find for collectors
infrequency

Refers to how seldom something happens or appears, emphasizing the regularity aspect.

  • The infrequency of his visits made her question their relationship

Examples of usage

  • The rarity of the stamp made it highly sought after by collectors.
  • Finding a complete set of these coins is a rarity.
Context #2 | Noun

in nature

A rare person or thing.

Synonyms

exception, gem, treasure.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rarity

Used to describe something that is uncommon or not frequently found.

  • A solar eclipse is a rarity
  • Finding a four-leaf clover is a rarity
exception

Used when something does not follow the general rule or pattern, indicating it's not typical.

  • Most students struggled with the exam, but John was the exception
  • The weather is usually hot in July, but today is an exception
gem

Typically used to describe something or someone that is precious or of high value, often indicating quality or excellence.

  • She's a gem of a person
  • That movie is a hidden gem
treasure

Used to describe something of great value or importance, often something that is cherished or highly prized.

  • This family heirloom is a treasure
  • He found a buried treasure chest on the island

Examples of usage

  • She is a rarity in a world full of mediocrity.
  • His talent is a rarity that should be cherished.
Context #3 | Noun

in statistics

The probability of occurrence of a particular event.

Synonyms

chance, likelihood, probability.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rarity

Used to describe something that is uncommon or infrequently occurring.

  • Finding a four-leaf clover is a rarity.
  • Seeing a deer in the city is quite a rarity.
likelihood

Indicates how probable something is, often used in more formal or analytical contexts.

  • The likelihood of winning the lottery is very low.
  • In all likelihood, she will accept the offer.
chance

Refers to the possibility of something happening, often used in casual conversations and can imply unpredictability.

  • There's a good chance it will rain tomorrow.
  • You should take a chance and apply for that job.
probability

Often used in mathematical or scientific contexts to describe the measure of how likely an event is to occur.

  • The probability of flipping a coin and getting heads is 50%.
  • We need to calculate the probability of the experiment's success.

Examples of usage

  • The rarity of this genetic mutation is 1 in a million.
  • The rarity of winning the lottery is extremely low.

Translations

Translations of the word "rarity" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น raridade

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเฅเคฐเฅเคฒเคญเคคเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Seltenheit

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kelangkaan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั€ั–ะดะบั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ rzadkoล›ฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็จ€ๅฐ‘

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท raretรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ rareza

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท nadirlik

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํฌ๊ท€์„ฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู†ุฏุฑุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vzรกcnost

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vzรกcnosลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็จ€ๆœ‰

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ redkost

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sjaldgรฆfi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัะธั€ะตะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ˜แƒจแƒ•แƒ˜แƒแƒ—แƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nadirlik

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ rareza

Etymology

The word 'rarity' originated from the Middle English word 'rarite', which came from the Old French 'rarite' and Latin 'raritas'. The concept of rarity has always been valued in various aspects of life, from collecting items to appreciating unique individuals. The word has evolved to represent not just scarcity, but also the exceptional and precious qualities that make something or someone rare.

See also: rare, rarely, rareness.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,266, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.