also: げてもの
low-quality product; strange thing; odd combination
Refers to something of poor quality, bizarre, or a weird mix, often with a negative or dismissive tone. Can describe objects, food, or ideas.
This store sells nothing but low-quality junk.
His cooking is always a weird combination.
変わり種 means something unusual or a novelty, often neutral or positive, whereas ゲテモノ is dismissive and implies low quality.
Katakana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Search-only kanji form; not used in normal writing.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is normally written in kana.
The origin is uncertain. It may be a compound of 下手 (heta, 'unskillful') and 物 (mono, 'thing'), but the reading ゲテ is irregular. The katakana spelling suggests a colloquial or slang origin.