What does uncommonness mean?
Uncommonness is the noun formed from the adjective uncommon and means the state or quality of being rare, exceptional, distinctive, or not commonly encountered. It applies to people, objects, words, places, behaviors, and circumstances, and it may emphasize how infrequently something occurs, how distinctive it seems, or both. For example, a writer might praise a piece of writing for the uncommonness of its imagery, while another might attribute an animal's survival to the uncommonness of its coloring. In ordinary conversation, people often say rarity or unusualness instead, and uncommonness has a more formal, analytical tone than either. It is also distinct from uncommon, the adjective that describes such a person, object, or situation. Overall, uncommonness is useful when discussing frequency, distinctiveness, or the quality of being exceptional without relying on a less precise generic label such as specialness.
nounThe state or quality of being uncommon; rarity or unusualness.
- The state or quality of being rare, exceptional, distinctive, or not commonly encountered.
"It was the uncommonness of her voice, rather than its volume, that caught the producer's attention."
"The uncommonness of the flower made it highly sought after by collectors."
"Critics catalogued the uncommonnesses of the design, from its asymmetrical handles to its unfamiliar typography."
Rare and usually unnecessary, because uncommonness is normally treated as an uncountable noun.
"Critics catalogued the uncommonnesses of the design, from its asymmetrical handles to its unfamiliar typography."
Sometimes the simplest way to sound literary is to add “-ness”—but uncommonness does more than decorate “uncommon”: it names rarity as a quality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does uncommonness come from?
Uncommonness is an English formation made by attaching the suffix -ness to uncommon. The suffix -ness, developed through Middle English -nesse from Old English -nes, forms nouns naming a state or quality. Uncommon was formed in English with the prefix un- and common; common came through Middle English from Old French commun, ultimately from Latin communis, meaning “common” or “general.” Words such as commune, community, and communicate also trace to Latin communis.
How uncommonness is actually used
Relatively formal and abstract; in everyday speech, people more often use rarity, uncommon, or unusualness. Depending on context, it may emphasize infrequency, distinctive character, or both.
Easily confused with uncommonness
Uncommonness is a noun naming the quality of being unusual or rare, whereas uncommon is the corresponding adjective describing something that is unusual or infrequently encountered.