Origin: Latin suffix -ular
Singular has 9 different meanings across 2 categories:
the form of a word that is used to denote a singleton
"The dog wagged its singular tail when it saw its owner return."
A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.
"The singular verb agrees with its singular subject in number."
In plain English: A singular noun is just one person, place, thing, or idea by itself without any others included.
"The singular stood out among all the other identical items in the collection."
unusual or striking
"a remarkable sight"
"such poise is singular in one so young"
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
"a curious hybrid accent"
"her speech has a funny twang"
"they have some funny ideas about war"
"had an odd name"
"the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves"
"something definitely queer about this town"
"what a rum fellow"
"singular behavior"
being a single and separate person or thing
"can the singular person be understood apart from his culture?"
"every fact in the world might be singular...unlike any other fact and sole of its kind"
composed of one member, set, or kind
"The singular species was so unique that no other plants in the region shared its traits."
grammatical number category referring to a single item or unit
"The noun takes the singular form when it refers to exactly one person, place, or thing."
Being only one of a larger population.
"The rare species was singular among all the plants in the vast garden."
In plain English: Singular means being alone, single, or having only one of something.
"The car had a singular design that made it stand out from all the others on the road."
Usage: Use singular as an adjective when describing something consisting of just one item, such as a singular noun in grammar or a singular experience among many. Ensure the subject and verb agree with this form by using it for single entities rather than plural groups.
The word singular comes from the Latin term singulus, meaning "single." It entered English via Old French and originally described something that was alone of its kind.