What does rarer mean?
Rarer is the comparative form of the adjective rare. It describes something that occurs less frequently than usual, as in a rarer species of bird or a rarer form of the disease. It can also convey that something is exceptional or remarkable because it is uncommon, particularly in expressions such as a rarer achievement or a rarer sight. The word is standard in British and American English and is used across formal, professional, and everyday contexts. Rarer is the middle term in the comparison rare, rarer, and rarest, so it typically implies that something is uncommon but not the least common of several possibilities. Its adverbial and noun derivatives, rarely and rarity, are also widely established. The word is useful when making comparisons of frequency, visibility, or occurrence, while related forms such as rarefied and rarefaction belong to more specialized uses and can carry different meanings.
adjectiveOccurring or found only infrequently; uncommon. It can also describe something exceptional or remarkable because it is unusual.
- Occurring or found less frequently than is usual.
- Exceptional, remarkable, or unusually valuable because it is uncommon.
"The museum acquired a rare manuscript that had remained in private hands for generations."
"Rainfall in the region is rare, particularly during the summer months."
"Meeting the standard required for the position is a rare achievement."
From Latin rarus, the source of words ranging from rare books to the scientific rarity of a vanishing species.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rarer come from?
Rare entered Middle English through Old French rare, ultimately from the Latin adjective rarus, meaning "uncommon" or "exceptional." The Latin root also underlies English words including rarity, rarefied, and rarefaction. The modern adjective developed through the comparison of rare, rarer, and rarest, with the word becoming established in English by the late Middle English period.
Related word forms
How rarer is actually used
The adjective is common in both formal and informal English. Its comparative and superlative forms are rarer and rarest. In phrases such as a rare condition or a rare sight, it may suggest distinction as well as infrequency.