What does uniqueness mean?
Uniqueness is the quality of being genuinely distinct from other people, objects, ideas, or experiences. It is used when something has a distinctive combination of features or stands apart from everything else in a particular category. The word often appears in discussions of art, identity, education, design, and personal development, where it emphasizes what makes someone or something exceptional. Unlike simply being unusual, which may involve changing from a familiar norm, uniqueness suggests a more fundamental distinctiveness. The term is typically abstract and noun-based, taking the adjective unique and adding the suffix -ness to form a noun meaning the state or quality of being unique. It can be used in both British and American English without a significant regional difference, although the phrase “the uniqueness of” is especially common in formal and educational writing.
nounThe quality of being unique; the state of being the only one of its kind or unlike anything else.
- The quality of being unique or distinct from all others.
"The uniqueness of the building's design makes it impossible to confuse with any other structure."
"The uniqueness of the manuscript attracted the attention of several publishers."
"Her lecture emphasized the importance of individuality and the uniqueness of every person's experience."
Rare. In ordinary usage, uniqueness is generally treated as an abstract noun and is used in the singular.
"The collection was presented as a series of separate uniquenesses rather than as a single artistic statement."
Uniqueness puts the spotlight not merely on being unusual, but on being genuinely one of a kind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does uniqueness come from?
Uniqueness was formed in English by adding the noun-forming suffix -ness to unique. Unique entered English through French from Latin unicus, meaning “single” or “one of its kind,” and unicus is related to the Latin numeral unus, meaning “one.” Several English words share this broader Latin root, including unit, unicorn, and unanimous.
How uniqueness is actually used
Generally neutral but somewhat formal, uniqueness is common in academic, educational, and descriptive contexts. It can sound complimentary when referring to distinctive qualities and may occasionally be perceived as vague unless the distinctive feature is identified.
Easily confused with uniqueness
Uniqueness means being unlike other things, whereas ubiquity means being present or found everywhere.