Odd One Out Reasoning (Words): Word Classification Questions with Answers for SSC CGL, CHSL
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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In word classification (odd one out), three words belong to the same group and one does not. You find the odd one. It is a quick topic, and the key is to find the common feature of the three words. These odd one out tricks for SSC give the common types of groups and solved examples.
Common Basis of Classification
| Basis | Example | Odd one |
|---|---|---|
| Category (fruit, vegetable) | Apple, Mango, Potato, Banana | Potato (a vegetable) |
| Animal group | Dog, Cat, Cow, Eagle | Eagle (a bird) |
| Cities and country | Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, India | India (a country) |
| Tools | Hammer, Saw, Spanner, Table | Table (furniture) |
| Mammals and birds | Sparrow, Crow, Bat, Parrot | Bat (a mammal) |
| Type of instrument | Sitar, Guitar, Violin, Flute | Flute (a wind instrument) |
| Flowers | Rose, Lotus, Lily, Mango | Mango (a fruit) |
| Shape and colour | Red, Blue, Green, Square | Square (a shape) |
Method
- Read the four words and find the group that three of them belong to.
- Check the category, the use, the form (shape, colour) and the nature (living, non-living).
- If two groups are possible, choose the one in which three words fit.
- Mark the word which does not fit.
Solved Examples
Example 1. Apple, Mango, Potato, Banana.
Apple, mango and banana are fruits. Potato is a vegetable.
Example 2. Dog, Cat, Cow, Eagle.
Dog, cat and cow are mammals. Eagle is a bird.
Example 3. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, India.
The first three are cities. India is a country.
Example 4. Sparrow, Crow, Bat, Parrot.
Sparrow, crow and parrot are birds. Bat is a mammal, although it flies.
Example 5. Sitar, Guitar, Violin, Flute.
Sitar, guitar and violin are string instruments. Flute is a wind instrument.
Tips
- Do not use only the shape of the word. Think about the meaning.
- A bat, a whale and a dolphin look like other groups but are mammals.
- Tomato is a fruit in science but is used as a vegetable; avoid it unless the question is clear.
Quick Tips
- Find the common feature of three words.
- Think about the category, the use and the nature.
- Be careful with the animals that look different (bat, whale).
- Use general knowledge for the classification.
Quick Revision Points
- Three words share a feature and one does not.
- Fruit, vegetable, bird and mammal are common bases.
- A bat is a mammal.
- A flute is a wind instrument, and a sitar is a string instrument.
- Cities and a country cannot be in the same group.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Apple, Mango, Potato, Banana: find the odd one.
Answer: Potato - Dog, Cat, Cow, Eagle: find the odd one.
Answer: Eagle - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, India: find the odd one.
Answer: India - Hammer, Saw, Spanner, Table: find the odd one.
Answer: Table - Sparrow, Crow, Bat, Parrot: find the odd one.
Answer: Bat - Sitar, Guitar, Violin, Flute: find the odd one.
Answer: Flute - Rose, Lotus, Lily, Mango: find the odd one.
Answer: Mango - Red, Blue, Green, Square: find the odd one.
Answer: Square - Which animal that flies is a mammal?
Answer: Bat - What is the first step in an odd one out question?
Answer: Find the common feature of three words
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Verbal Reasoning notes page, read the previous topic Word Analogy and the next topic Jumbled Words and Anagrams. Learn the letter positions from the Alphabet Test note first. Also read Classification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is odd one out in reasoning?
It is a question in which three words belong to one group and the fourth does not, and you find the fourth.
How do I find the odd word?
Find the common feature of three words (category, use or nature).
Is a bat a bird?
No. A bat is a flying mammal.
Is a potato a fruit or a vegetable?
A potato is a vegetable (a tuber).
Is a flute a string instrument?
No. It is a wind instrument.
What if two groups are possible?
Choose the group that has three words.
Is classification asked in SSC exams?
Yes. Classification is asked in SSC CGL, CHSL and MTS reasoning.
How much time should I take?
About 20 seconds.
What are the common mistakes?
Looking only at the spelling and not the meaning.
How can I improve my speed?
Learn the common groups (animals, birds, fruits, tools) in lists.
What is verbal classification?
Classification using words.
What is the difference between classification and analogy?
Classification finds the odd one, and analogy finds a word with the same relation.
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Word Analogy Reasoning Tricks: Relation Types and Solved Questions for SSC CGL, CHSL
Next chapter
Jumbled Words and Anagram Reasoning: Rearrange Letters to Make Meaningful Words for SSC
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.