What does "oddment" mean?
A part of something that is left over, such as a piece of cloth.
Oddment
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A part of something that is left over, such as a piece of cloth.
- Grammar: oddment is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: curio, curiosity, end, oddity.
- Usage evidence: She is ingenious in economising every oddment.
How to use "oddment"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "oddment" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "oddment" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "oddment" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "oddment" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "oddment" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "curio" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "oddment", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A part of something that is left over, such as a piece of cloth.
"an oddment of ribbon / of wood"
- 2 something unusual — perhaps worthy of collecting wordnet
- 3 Something that does not match the things it is with or cannot easily be categorized; a miscellaneous item.
"The Lahore Museum was larger, but here were more wonders—ghost-daggers and prayer-wheels from Tibet; […] gilt figures of Buddha, and little portable lacquer altars; Russian samovars with turquoises on the lid; […] arms of all sorts and kinds, and a thousand other oddments were cased, or piled, or merely thrown into the room, […]"
- 4 a piece of cloth that is left over after the rest has been used or sold wordnet
- 5 An item that was originally part of a set but is sold individually; an excess item of stock.
"[…] she pushed me inside a shop that sold oddments and seconds."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A part of a book that is not a portion of the text, such as the title, index, etc. (usually plural).
- 7 A person who does not fit in with others or is considered to be strange in some way.
"Oh, I know for a fact that she’s loaned a fiver from the little oddment who has the floor under mine—"
- 8 A varied collection (of items).
"1862, Edward Bradley (as Cuthbert Bede), “The Agreeable Monk” in The Curate of Cranston; with Other Prose and Verse, London: Saunders, Otley, p. 281, […] there are two or three tables, where are newspapers, and some of the latest periodicals and reviews, and a miscellaneous oddment of the current sacred and profane literature, stacked for convenience of reference […]"
- 9 A remaining number or amount (after a calculation).
"I’m your age treble [i.e. three times your age], with some oddments to’t,"
- 10 Something strange or unusual.
"How did he come to join the cavalry? That was an oddment."
Example
"She is ingenious in economising every oddment."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "oddment"?
Common synonyms include: curio, curiosity, end, oddity, peculiarity, rarity.
How do you use "oddment" in a sentence?
She is ingenious in economising every oddment.
Etymology
From odd + -ment.