What does bizarrerie mean?
Bizarrerie is a formal noun denoting a bizarre thing or quality — either a specific oddity or strangeness viewed abstractly. Borrowed from French into English in the seventeenth century, it remains a literary rarity, used most often by writers who want a more elevated or playful alternative to words like "oddity" or "peculiarity." In the plural, "bizarreries," it frequently describes a collection of strange details, as in the bizarreries of an artist's style or a region's customs. The word carries little negative weight; it suggests fascination more than disapproval, inviting the reader to be intrigued rather than alarmed. Though seldom heard in everyday speech, it is instantly understood thanks to its transparent relationship with "bizarre," making it a useful ornament for essays, criticism, and descriptive prose that aims for wit and precision at once.
nounA strange or unusual thing or quality; the state or character of being bizarre. It can refer both to individual oddities and to strangeness as an abstract quality.
- A bizarre thing; an instance of something strange or outlandish.
- The quality or state of being bizarre; strangeness as an abstract characteristic.
"The film's charm lies less in its plot than in its endless bizarreries of costume and dialogue."
"The novel revels in the bizarreries of small-town life."
"There is a certain bizarrerie to the building's architecture that defies easy description."
The plural is common when referring to multiple instances of strangeness; the singular tends toward the abstract sense.
"The travelogue catalogues the bizarreries of the island's festivals with affectionate detail."
Borrowed straight from French, "bizarrerie" lets you call something weird with a word that is itself delightfully weird — a rare case of a word's sound matching its sense.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bizarrerie
Bizarrerie entered English from French in the early seventeenth century, formed from the adjective "bizarre" plus the noun-forming suffix "-erie." The ultimate origin of "bizarre" itself is disputed: it may derive from the Spanish "bizarro" (meaning brave or gallant, possibly from Basque) or from Italian, where it came to mean eccentric or strange. English adopted only the "strange" sense, and "bizarrerie" has remained a comparatively rare literary borrowing ever since.
How bizarrerie is actually used
"Bizarrerie" is a formal, literary word, far rarer than its adjective "bizarre." It often appears in the plural ("bizarreries") when referring to multiple oddities, and carries a slightly playful or appreciative connotation rather than a purely negative one.
Easily confused with bizarrerie
"Bizarre" is the adjective meaning very strange, while "bizarrerie" is the noun naming a specific strange thing or the quality of being bizarre.