strangeness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, neutral, technical (physics)
Quick answer
What does “strangeness” mean?
The quality of being unusual, surprising, or difficult to understand.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being unusual, surprising, or difficult to understand; unfamiliarity.
In physics, a quantum number representing the difference between the number of strange quarks and antiquarks in a particle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Slight preference for 'weirdness' in more informal American contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties share connotations of intellectual curiosity, disorientation, or alienation. The British use may slightly more readily accept a literary or philosophical tone.
Frequency
Comparably low frequency in both varieties, with slightly higher use in British English in literary/academic contexts according to corpus data.
Grammar
How to Use “strangeness” in a Sentence
the strangeness of + NPfeel a sense of strangenessbe struck by the strangenessVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in marketing: 'The strangeness of the new design initially put off consumers.'
Academic
Common in literature, philosophy, sociology (describing alienation, the 'other'), and physics (technical term).
Everyday
Low frequency. Used to describe deeply unfamiliar experiences: 'I can't get over the strangeness of working from home.'
Technical
Standard term in particle physics for the 'S' quantum number.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strangeness”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strangeness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strangeness”
- Using 'strangeness' to mean 'stranger' (person). Confusing with 'strangulation'. Overusing in informal contexts where 'weirdness' is more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a mid-frequency word (C1 level), more common in written and formal contexts than in casual speech.
'Strangeness' is more formal and often implies intellectual curiosity or philosophical alienation. 'Weirdness' is more informal and implies a stronger sense of the bizarre or supernatural.
Yes, it can describe a delightful or interesting novelty, as in 'the charming strangeness of a foreign festival'.
Only etymologically. The physics term was chosen whimsically because the particles behaved 'strangely', but it now refers to a specific, measured property of subatomic particles.
The quality of being unusual, surprising, or difficult to understand.
Strangeness is usually formal, neutral, technical (physics) in register.
Strangeness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstreɪndʒnəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstreɪndʒnəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A strangeness on the land (literary)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'stranger' in a 'nest' – a stranger in your nest would create a feeling of STRANGENESS.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRANGENESS IS DISTANCE (emotional/physical), STRANGENESS IS A SUBSTANCE (that can be felt or permeates).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'strangeness' a formal, quantifiable property?