Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rare bird

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.39 in modern English

Syllables: rare bird
IPA

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An unusual or exceptional person or thing.

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see rare, bird.

Example Sentences

"An occasional Afghan makes a good bushman. These rare birds, with the help of natives, found that by winding in and out over the soft ground of the valleys they could bring a camel-train where no wheeled transport could go."
"Finds it more physical, that's an important word / Always seen first then heard / Such a rare bird"
"If you are one of the rare birds who doesn't have a FICO score, or if your score is so low that you can't get a credit card, I want you to get a secured credit card."
"This makes him a rare bird, for most Democrats running for re-election are staying mum or apologising for their votes for reform."

Etymology

Calque of Latin rāra avis, part of a commonly quoted line from Juvenal's Satire VI: rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno ("a bird as rare upon the earth as a black swan").

Inflected Forms

rare birds (plural)

Phrases

strange bird

Frequently Paired Words

strange bird

Synonyms

rara avis

Questions

What does rare bird mean?: An unusual or exceptional person or thing.
Where does rare bird come from?: Calque of Latin rāra avis, part of a commonly quoted line from Juvenal's Satire VI: rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno ("a bird as rare upon the earth as a black swan").

How to pronounce rare bird

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