From Middle English singuler, Borrowed from Old French, from Latin singulāris, from Latin singulus.

• (America) enPR: sĭng'-gyə-lər, IPA: /ˈsɪŋ.ɡjə.lɚ/
• (RP) enPR: sĭng'-gyo͝o-lə, IPA: /ˈsɪŋ.ɡjʊ.lə/

singular

1. Being only one of a larger population.

   Synonyms: individual, Thesaurus:specific

   Antonyms: general, Thesaurus:generic

   A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.

2. Being the only one of the kind; unique.

   Synonyms: unique, Thesaurus:unique

   She has a singular personality.

   • 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗:

     The busts […] of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.

   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC ↗; Charles Cowden Clarke, editor, The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer. […], 2nd edition, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), Edinburgh: James Nichol; London: James Nisbet & Co.; Dublin: W. Robertson, 1860, →OCLC ↗:

     And God forbid that all a company / Should rue a singular manne's folly.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1620, Francis Bacon, Novum Organum:

     singular instances

   • 1839, Charles Darwin, Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC ↗, pages 461–462 ↗:

     A group of finches, of which Mr. Gould considers there are thirteen species; and these he has distributed into for new sub-genera. These birds are the most singular of any in the archipelago.

3. Distinguished by superiority: peerless, unmatched, eminent, exceptional, extraordinary.

   Synonyms: exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable

   a man of singular gravity or attainments

4. Out of the ordinary; curious.

   Synonyms: curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, rum, rummy, strange, unusual, Thesaurus:strange

   It was very singular; I don't know why he did it.

   • 1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC ↗, Act I, scene ii, page 11 ↗:

     So ſingular a ſadneſs / Muſt have a cauſe as ſtrange as the effect: […]

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗:

     His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.

5. (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.

   Antonyms: plural

6. (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.

   Synonyms: non-invertible

   Antonyms: invertible, non-singular

7. (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
8. (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own cofinality.
9. (law) Each; individual.

   to convey several parcels of land, all and singular

10. (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
    • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC ↗:

      Thus made he an end, and the two princes allowed well of his last motion, and so order was taken, that they should fight togither in a singular combat

• German: einzeln
• Portuguese: único, simples
• Russian: еди́нственный
• Spanish: singular

• German: einzigartig
• Portuguese: singular, único
• Russian: едини́чный
• Spanish: singular

• German: einzigartig
• Portuguese: singular, único
• Spanish: único

• German: ungewöhnlich
• Portuguese: singular, único
• Russian: своеобра́зный
• Spanish: singular

• French: singulier
• German: singularisch
• Italian: singolare
• Portuguese: singular, único
• Russian: еди́нственный
• Spanish: singular

• French: singulier
• German: singulär
• Spanish: singular

• Spanish: singular

singular (plural singulars)

1. (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.

   Antonyms: plural

2. (logic) That which is not general; a specific determinate instance.

• plural

• French: singulier
• German: Einzahl, Singular, Singularis (dated)
• Italian: singolare
• Portuguese: singular
• Russian: еди́нственное число́
• Spanish: singular