sui generis
The Latin term "sui generis" is widely used in English to describe something that is unique and cannot be classified within a broader category.
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Definition
C2General
(formal)Unique and in a class by itself.
Example
- Her artistic style is sui generis, defying all conventional genres.
C2Law
(technical)A legal classification that exists independently of other categorizations.
Example
- The court's powers in this matter are sui generis, not derived from any existing statute.
C2Philosophy
(technical)An idea or entity that cannot be reduced to a lower concept or included in a higher concept.
Example
- The philosopher argued that human consciousness is sui generis and cannot be fully explained by physical processes alone.
C2Arts
(creative)A work that does not fit into standard genre boundaries.
Example
- The film was sui generis, blending elements of drama, comedy, and science fiction.
C2Science
(technical)A species or entity that is the sole member of its classification.
Example
- The newly discovered plant was considered sui generis, as it did not fit into any existing genus.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "sui generis":