English · Word Candidate

curiosity

/ˌkjʊə.ɹiˈɒs.ə.ti/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: curiosities

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring.

Noun

Examples

It was the first time that the lawyer had been received in that part of his friend's quarters; and he eyed the dingy windowless structure with curiosity, and gazed round with a distasteful sense of strangeness as he crossed the theatre, […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest.

Noun

Examples

He put the strangely shaped rock in his curiosity cabinet.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “curiosity” mean?

Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring.

Is “curiosity” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.