rarity

Word family

rar·i·ty /ˈreərəti $ ˈrer-/ noun (plural rarities)

1 be a rarity RAREto not happen or exist very often 极为罕见

Visitors were a rarity in the village.

村里极少有外人来。

Examples from the Corpus

be a rarity• A sheriff who is dumb is a rarity.• Breadwinner wives who are the couple's sole earners are a rarity, wives are typically joint but secondary earners.• A member of the flock was a rarity, but which was it?• In short, while most judiciaries exercise some discretion in adjudication, the existence of a truly independent judiciary is a rarity.• Unlike the West, business luncheons are a rarity and evening entertainment almost never takes place in the home.• The campaigners Margaret Thatcher is a rarity among national leaders in that she has a science background.• I decided to skip dessert, which is a rarity for me.

2 [countableC]RARE something that is valuable or interesting because it is rare 珍品；稀有物

Some of these plants are national rarities.

这些植物中有些是国家珍品。

3 [uncountableU]RARE the quality of being rare 稀有，罕见

Such stamps are expensive because of their rarity.

这些邮票因为罕见而价格昂贵。

Examples from the Corpus

rarity• Breadwinner wives who are the couple's sole earners are a rarity, wives are typically joint but secondary earners.• Moreover, stage performances of opera had been a rarity during the war.• This disease although now a rarity, does warrant a brief description.• Although once a rarity, the alto flute is now frequently found in modern orchestras.• Among wild creatures rarity is a relative condition, not always determined on the basis of actual numbers.• And he was that greater rarity, a Moses without political ambition.• That sheep dip is singularly disagreeable to a golden eagle is one reason for its rarity.• The Go-Gos' latest album is packed with live versions, B-sides, and other rarities.• That left him with one explanation for the rarity of polygamy in sparrows: The senior wives do not stand for it.

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus

BNC: 9964 COCA: 12100

rarity

Rarely and not often: rarely, little, seldom...

Rare and sought-after: rare, precious, scarce...