one-of-a-kind item / unique person
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one-of-a-kind item
An object or work of which there is only one single copy. It is therefore unique and not reproduced.
Dieses handgemalte Bild ist ein Unikat und daher besonders wertvoll.
This hand-painted picture is a one-of-a-kind item and therefore especially valuable.
'Unikat' comes from the Latin word 'unus', which means 'one'. An 'Unikat' is therefore literally a 'single piece'. This origin helps you understand the meaning of uniqueness.
Jede ihrer handgefertigten Vasen ist ein Unikat.
Each of her handmade vases is a one-of-a-kind item.
In its main meaning, the word is almost always used for objects from the fields of art, design, or craft. It emphasizes that something was not mass-produced.
Der Schmuckdesigner stellt nur Unikate her.
The jewelry designer makes only one-of-a-kind pieces.
When a person is described as an 'Unikat' (unique person), this is a figurative, usually positive and appreciative description. It means that the person has a very original and unmistakable character.
Unsere Großmutter war mit ihrer Energie und ihrem Humor ein echtes Unikat.
With her energy and humor, our grandmother was a truly unique person.
rarity
'Seltenheit' and 'Unikat' can both describe that something is special and not ordinary. But the difference is important: a 'Seltenheit' occurs rarely, but there can be several of them. An 'Unikat' exists only once. The word is often used for handmade objects, works of art, or special one-off pieces. In a figurative sense, a very special person can also be an 'Unikat'. The words can be confused because something unique is, of course, also rare. But not every 'Seltenheit' is an 'Unikat'.
Der Tisch aus der kleinen Werkstatt ist ein Unikat, weil ihn der Schreiner nur einmal gebaut hat.
The table from the small workshop is a one-of-a-kind piece because the carpenter made it only once.
In der Bibliothek ist dieses alte Wörterbuch eine Seltenheit, aber es gibt noch weitere Exemplare in anderen Städten.
In the library, this old dictionary is a rarity, but there are still other copies in other cities.