adjective
rare
RAIR/rer/
Uncommon or encountered infrequently.
A rare white deer stands among brown deer near the woods.
Etymology
Latin rarus described things with gaps between them, such as a loose texture or thinly sown seeds. From “widely spaced,” the meaning developed through “few in number” to “seldom found.”
In context
value is just behind that of copper and cerium is even more abundant than common metals such as lead and tin thus despite its position as one of the so-called rare earth metals cerium is actually not rare at all
More examples
- Snow is rare here, even in January.
- This museum displays some of the world's rarest coins.
- The invitation offers a rare opportunity to meet the author.
Forms
Similar words
- uncommon
- Usually suggests something less exceptional or hard to find than rare.
- infrequent
- Emphasizes events happening seldom rather than objects being unusual.
- scarce
- Emphasizes limited availability, often compared with how much is needed.