quiddity

noun
UK: /ˈkwɪdəti/
US: /ˈkwɪdədi/

  1. The real nature of something; what makes something what it is.

    1. The quiddity of art is a popular question for art students.
    2. He tried to capture the quiddity of the actor's performance in his review.

  2. A trifling point; a petty subtlety.

    1. They argued over quiddity instead of the main problem.
    2. The lawyer focused on the quiddity of the contract, ignoring the larger issue.

Synonyms

essence nature gist point nicety subtlety

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "quiddity" in English means: The real nature of something; what makes something what it is., A trifling point; a petty subtlety..

The phonetic transcription of "quiddity" is /ˈkwɪdəti/ in British English and /ˈkwɪdədi/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "quiddity": essence, nature, gist, point, nicety, subtlety.

Example usage of "quiddity": "The quiddity of art is a popular question for art students.". More examples on the page.