sui generis

adjective

ˌsü-ˌī-ˈje-nə-rəs How to pronounce sui generis (audio)
Definition of sui generisnext
as in only
being the one or ones of a class with no other members among history's greats Leonardo da Vinci is often considered sui generis—a man of such stupendous genius that the world may never see his like again

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sui generis Lisa McGee broke through with a sui generis comedy that mined aspects of her own experience to find authentic humor in a harrowing situation. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026 Together, multi-instrumentalists Marc Riordan and Jon Leland craft a sui generis anachronism, hellbent on lovingly refracting the century-old sound through a contemporary prism. — Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026 Her writing plays according to very strong internal rules—the aesthetic is really regulated and, in many ways, sui generis. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026 The same thing can be said about the narrowcast programming on public-access television, which, at its best, vibrated with sui generis excitement that predated and forecasted the early uncharted territory of the internet. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sui generis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sui generis
  1. only
  2. one
  3. lone
  4. special
Adjective
  • Thus far, these states are the only ones the CDC has confirmed as related to one another and traced back to the lettuce.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The police will have to disclose only reports of crimes that took place on the campus itself, and not reports concerning burglary, larceny and other offenses, which the judge deemed irrelevant.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of only
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    — SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Definition of one
Adjective
  • On a recent swampy day in July, a lone tourist was posing for a photo in front of one of the historic townhouses along Columbia Heights, the most picturesque street in Brooklyn’s most picturesque neighborhood.
    — Bridget Read, Curbed, 1 Sep. 2026
  • As usual with this pitching staff, the lone bright spot has been Logan Webb.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of lone
Adjective
  • At a special fair contest, Iowa pie bakers gave the Pie Lady Louise Piper a fitting farewell.
    — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 28 Aug. 2026
  • If your stay involves a special occasion, the Teppanyaki show-cooking experience makes for an unforgettable celebration.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of special

Browse Nearby Words

suiciding
sui generis
suing
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Cite this Entry

“Sui generis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sui%20generis. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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