What does "idiosyncrasy" mean?
A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person or a group.
Idiosyncrasy
/ˌɪdɪəʊˈsɪŋkɹəsi/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person or a group.
- Grammar: idiosyncrasy is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: aberration, abnormality, animus, anomaly.
- Useful contrasts: archetypes, conformity, normal response.
- Usage evidence: As far as I understand despite my limited knowledge, here in Venezuela we must adapt to the prevailing mentality and social order. Therefore, an individual must live among opportunism, poverty, manipulation and superficiality. It might be a very characteristic Latino idiosyncrasy to behave as in the book "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel García Márquez when it comes to dealing with delicate situations. Everybody knows what's happening, but nobody raises his voice and even if somebody did, nobody would support him. Only enlightenment through education could end the ignorance that is a scourge on our people, from which many other problems arise. However, it's unlikely to expect a government to propose to spread values that threaten its own interests, because it's better for them to keep society ignorant in order to manipulate it with ease.
How to use "idiosyncrasy"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "idiosyncrasy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "idiosyncrasy" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person or a group.
"This mode of death had been an idiosyncrasy with his family, for generations past; not often occurring, indeed, but, when it does occur, usually attacking individuals about the Judge’s time of life, and generally in the tension of some mental crisis, or, perhaps, in an access of wrath."
- 2 a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual wordnet
- 3 A peculiar individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance or factor; a risk factor.
"[…]I have no antipathy, or rather Idio-ſyncraſie, in dyet, humour, ayre, any thing; […]."
- 4 A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify.
"He mastered the idiosyncrasies of English spelling and speech."
Antonyms
Example
"As far as I understand despite my limited knowledge, here in Venezuela we must adapt to the prevailing mentality and social order. Therefore, an individual must live among opportunism, poverty, manipulation and superficiality. It might be a very characteristic Latino idiosyncrasy to behave as in the book "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel García Márquez when it comes to dealing with delicate situations. Everybody knows what's happening, but nobody raises his voice and even if somebody did, nobody would support him. Only enlightenment through education could end the ignorance that is a scourge on our people, from which many other problems arise. However, it's unlikely to expect a government to propose to spread values that threaten its own interests, because it's better for them to keep society ignorant in order to manipulate it with ease."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "idiosyncrasy"?
Common synonyms include: aberration, abnormality, animus, anomaly, anomaly, aptitude.
How do you use "idiosyncrasy" in a sentence?
As far as I understand despite my limited knowledge, here in Venezuela we must adapt to the prevailing mentality and social order. Therefore, an individual must live among opportunism, poverty, manipulation and superficiality. It might be a very characteristic Latino idiosyncrasy to behave as in the book "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel García Márquez when it comes to dealing with delicate situations. Everybody knows what's happening, but nobody raises his voice and even if somebody did, nobody would support him. Only enlightenment through education could end the ignorance that is a scourge on our people, from which many other problems arise. However, it's unlikely to expect a government to propose to spread values that threaten its own interests, because it's better for them to keep society ignorant in order to manipulate it with ease.
How do you pronounce "idiosyncrasy"?
Pronounced /ˌɪdɪəʊˈsɪŋkɹəsi/.
Etymology
First attested in 1604, in modern sense since 1665, from Ancient Greek ἰδιοσυγκρασία (idiosunkrasía, “one’s own temperament”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one’s own”) + σύν (sún, “together”) + κρᾶσις (krâsis, “temperament”). By surface analysis, idio- + syn- + -crasy.