unique

adjective

1)

each site is unique

Syn:

distinctive, distinct, individual, special, idiosyncratic; single, sole, lone, unrepeated, unrepeatable, solitary, exclusive, rare, uncommon, unusual, sui generis; informal one-off, one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime, one-shot

2)

a unique insight

Syn:

remarkable, special, singular, noteworthy, notable, extraordinary; unequaled, unparalleled, unmatched, unsurpassed, unrivaled, peerless, nonpareil, incomparable; formal unexampled

3)

species unique to the island

Syn:

peculiar, specific, limited

••

unique

Strictly speaking, unique means "being one of a kind", not "unusual." Hence the phrases very unique, quite unique, how unique, and the like are slovenly. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that this tendency to hyperbole — to use unique when all that is meant is "uncommon, unusual, remarkable" — began in the nineteenth century. However old it is, the tendency is worth resisting.

Unless the thing is the only one of its kind, rarity does not make it unique. For instance, if a thing is one in a million, logically there would be two things in two million. Rare indeed but not unique. Who can demand responsible use of the language from an ad writer who is reckless enough to say, in a national advertisement, that a certain luxury sedan is "so unique, it's capable of thought"? And what are we to make of the following examples?

• "This year the consensus among the development executives seems to be that there are some fantastically funny, very exciting, very, very unique talents here." (Time; Aug. 16, 1993.)

• "Residents of college basketball's most unique unincorporated village were in place yesterday afternoon, the day before their Blue Devils will face North Carolina." (New York Times; Feb. 2, 1995.)

Arguably, our modern culture lacks and does not want absolutes, in intellectual life or in language. But stick with the uncomparable unique, and you may stand out as almost unique. — BG