Singleton

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪŋ.ɡ(ə)l.tən/

Definitions

1. A sole entity within a group that functions independently An individual occurrence that stands apart from others in a specified context A unique case that typically arises when more than one instance is expected
2. An individual unit existing by itself within a collection ; one person or thing that stands alone apart from others ; a distinct instance that is unusual among multiple expected cases
3. A lone element that appears separately in a group ; a singular person or object isolated from a group ; a rare occurrence differing from the common multiple examples

Etymology: "Singleton" is a plain formation: "single" with the suffix "-ton" attached. The suffix is the same one found in "simpleton," and the word is thought to have been modelled on that older form. In "simpleton," the "-ton" ending gives a sense of a person of a particular kind, so "singleton" follows the same pattern, turning the idea of "single" into a noun for one thing set apart. The meaning has moved from the general idea of a lone individual to more specialized uses. In card games such as bridge, a singleton is a hand holding only one card of a particular suit, and in statistics and mathematics a singleton is a set containing exactly one element. These technical senses grow naturally from the core idea of something standing alone among a larger group.

Synonyms: individual, single entity, one-off, standalone, lone

Antonyms: multiple, pair, couple, group, set