What does odder mean?
“Odd” is an irregular adjective with the comparative “odder” and superlative “oddest.” It most often describes something that seems strange, unusual, eccentric, or contrary to expectation. For example, a person might describe an increasingly strange story as “odder and odder.” The word can also describe a difference within a sequence or between paired things: one member of a pair is “odder” in the sense of being the less typical or less regular one. In mathematical or numerical contexts, “odd” identifies a number that cannot be divided evenly by two, and its comparative can suggest a greater departure from that pattern. As a two-syllable comparative, “odder” may sound emphatic in phrases such as “far odder” and “much odder.” It is usually followed by “than,” although “more odd” is also idiomatic. The unusual comparative form is one reason the word is memorable, even though its basic meaning remains straightforward.
adjectiveThe comparative form of “odd”: more unusual, strange, or unexpected than something else. It can also mean more unlike a paired counterpart or more uneven.
- More strange, unusual, or unexpected than something else.
- More unlike a paired counterpart, especially in a sequence or pattern.
- Less regular or even than something else.
"The explanation became odder with every passing rumor."
"His mood seemed odder than usual that morning."
"Each number in the series became progressively odder."
“Odd” changes its comparative unusually: the familiar irregular form “odder” takes the place of the expected “odderer.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of odder
“Odd” was established in Middle English, but its precise origin is uncertain. The modern comparative “odder” reflects the adjective's irregular comparison, while “oddity” was formed directly from the same lexical root.
Related word forms
How odder is actually used
As an irregular comparative adjective, it normally takes “than”: “odder than expected.” “More odd” is also common, while “more odder,” though possible, is less usual.