From Latin pecūliāris, from pecūlium, from pecus.

• (British) IPA: /pɪˈkjuː.li.ə/, /pəˈkjuː.li.ə/
• (America) IPA: /pɪˈkjul.jɚ/, /pəˈkjul.jɚ/
• (Australia) IPA: /pɪˈkjʉː.li.ə/

peculiar

1. Out of the ordinary; odd; strange; unusual.

   Synonyms: odd, strange, uncommon, unusual

   Antonyms: common, mediocre, ordinary, usual

   The sky had a peculiar appearance before the storm.

   It would be rather peculiar to see a kangaroo hopping down a city street.

2. Common or usual for a certain place or circumstance; specific or particular.

   Synonyms: specific

   Antonyms: common, general, universal

   Kangaroos are peculiar to Australia.

   • 1726 October 27, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Great Love of His Native Country. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver's Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC ↗, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 262 ↗:

     And it was peculiar in their Temper, that they were fonder of what they could get by Rapine or Stealth at a greater diſtance, than much better Food provided for them at home.

3. (dated) One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not shared or possessed by others.
4. (dated) Particular; individual; special; appropriate.

• (out of the ordinary) see also Thesaurus:strange
• (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance) see also Thesaurus:specific

• (antonym(s) of “out of the ordinary”): see also Thesaurus:normal
• (antonym(s) of “common or usual in a particular place or circumstance”): see also Thesaurus:generic

• French: particulier, extraordinaire, bizarre, curieux
• German: merkwürdig, seltsam
• Italian: strano, peculiare, particolare
• Portuguese: peculiar, estranho, esquisito
• Russian: необы́чный
• Spanish: peculiar, raro

• French: particulier
• Italian: peculiare
• Portuguese: peculiar, particular
• Russian: сво́йственный
• Spanish: peculiar, específico

peculiar (plural peculiars)

1. That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.
   • before 1716, Robert South, Twelve Sermons

     If anything can legalize revenge, it should be injury from an extremely obliged person; but revenge is so absolutely the peculiar of heaven.

2. (UK, canon law) an ecclesiastical district, parish, chapel or church outside the jurisdiction of the bishop of the diocese in which it is situated.