yoo-NEEK-nuhs
/juˈniknəs/
uniqueness is pronounced yoo-NEEK-nuhs (/juˈniknəs/). Uniqueness refers to the quality or condition of being one of a kind or unlike anything else; it highlights distinctive traits that set someone or something apart. It often denotes rarity, novelty, or individual specificity, and can describe both intrinsic attributes and perceived exceptional qualities. In discourse, it emphasizes the singular character of a subject, idea, or object.
Uniqueness refers to the quality or condition of being one of a kind or unlike anything else; it highlights distinctive traits that set someone or something apart. It often denotes rarity, novelty, or individual specificity, and can describe both intrinsic attributes and perceived exceptional qualities. In discourse, it emphasizes the singular character of a subject, idea, or object.
"Her originality and bold fashion choices gave her an undeniable uniqueness."
"The island's isolation adds to its cultural uniqueness."
"Researchers study genetic uniqueness in populations to understand diversity."
Pronounced as /juːˈniːk.nəs/ (US) or /juːˈniː.knəs/ (UK/AU). The stress is on the second syllable: niː. Start with a long 'u' sound /juː/, then a long 'ee' /iː/ in the second syllable, followed by /k/ and the unstressed /nəs/ cluster. Ensure the final -ness is pronounced as /nəs/ with a light 's' ending. Audio reference: try listening to pronunciations on reputable dictionaries for the exact vowel length.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., u-NI-que-ness unfairly), lengthening the final 's' or pronouncing it as /z/ instead of /s/. Another mistake is conflating the second syllable with a short /ɪ/ instead of the long /iː/. Correction: emphasize the /niː/ syllable with a clear long vowel, and release the final /nəs/ smoothly instead of adding an extra schwa before /s/.
In US English, the leading /juː/ is often slightly lighter and the /ˈniːk/ segment can be held longer in careful speech. UK and Australian varieties keep the same rhythm but may slightly shorten the initial /juː/ and round the /iː/ more (though both remain long). The final /əs/ remains unstressed; some speakers may reduce the /k.nəs/ cluster in rapid speech.
It challenges non-native speakers with consecutive long vowels /juː/ and /niː/ and a neighboring /k/ followed by a light /nəs/ cluster. The sequence requires precise vowel length and syllable timing, plus avoiding overemphasis on the middle consonant. Practice with minimal pairs like 'unique' to mirror the voiced-voiceless transitions and ensure the 'k' cleanly exits before the final /nəs/.
A key trait is the high-front tense vowel sequence /juː/ followed by /ˈniːk/ before the final unstressed /nəs/. This creates a two-long-vowel core that demands mouth openness and precise tongue height. Maintaining a consistent flow between the /k/ and the /n/ without glottalization helps preserve the word’s characteristic clarity.
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US: /juːˈniːk.nəs/; rhotic accent does not affect this word, but you’ll hear slight length on /juː/ and /niː/. UK: /juːˈniː.knəs/ with a possibly crisper /k/ and a less pronounced /ə/ in connected speech. AU: similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities; you may hear a slightly more centralized /nə/ in fast speech. IPA references: use /juː/ for initial, /ˈniː/ for second syllable, /k/ followed by /nəs/; keep stress on second syllable.
Uniqueness derives from the adjective unique, which comes from the Latin unicus, meaning ‘one, sole, single.’ The -ness suffix forms abstract nouns indicating a state or quality. The Latin unicus itself traces to unus ‘one.’ Through Old French unicité and later Middle English usage, the term increasingly denoted the quality of being one of a kind. By the 17th century, uniqueness was used in philosophical and scientific contexts to denote singularity and non-replicability. In modern usage, it frequently emphasizes exceptional or distinguishing qualities within a person, object, or concept, and is often deployed in both evaluative and descriptive statements. The word’s trajectory mirrors broader shifts in discourse toward highlighting individuality and differentiation in a plural, comparative world.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "uniqueness" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "uniqueness"
-ess sounds
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