noun
rarity
RAIR-uh-tee/ˈrerəti/
The condition of being uncommon.
The ancient coin's rarity sets it apart from the collector's common specimens.
Etymology
The original image is of things thinly spread, with spaces between them: sparse things are few, and therefore uncommon. Rarity shifted from the condition of being uncommon to an uncommon thing itself.
In context
even a higher grade regular example could not automatically be described as a major rarity simply because it is old. True value depends on rarity, condition, demand, and whether the coin has an unusual variety or a genuine minting error.
More examples
- The coin's value depends partly on its rarity.
- Despite its rarity, the disease receives considerable research funding.
- Snowstorms are rarities in this coastal town.
Forms
Similar words
- uncommonness
- Directly names how unusual something is, without implying value.
- scarcity
- Emphasizes limited supply, especially compared with demand or need.
- infrequency
- Emphasizes how seldom something happens rather than its availability.