idiosyncrasy

id·i·o·syn·cra·sy

noun \ˌi-dē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē\

plural id·i·o·syn·cra·sies

Definition of IDIOSYNCRASY

1

a : a peculiarity of constitution or temperament : an individualizing characteristic or quality b : individual hypersensitiveness (as to a drug or food)

2

: characteristic peculiarity (as of temperament); broadly : eccentricity

— id·i·o·syn·crat·ic \ˌi-dē-ō-(ˌ)sin-ˈkra-tik\ adjective

— id·i·o·syn·crat·i·cal·ly \-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of IDIOSYNCRASY

1. Her habit of using “like” in every sentence was just one of her idiosyncrasies.
2. The current system has a few idiosyncracies.

Origin of IDIOSYNCRASY

Greek idiosynkrasia, from idio- + synkerannynai to blend, from syn- + kerannynai to mingle, mix — more at crater

First Known Use: 1604

Related to IDIOSYNCRASY

Synonyms: crotchet, curiosity, eccentricity, erraticism, individualism, kink, mannerism, oddity, peculiarity, quiddity, quip, quirk, singularity, tic, trick, twist

Related Words: affectation, airs; attribute, characteristic, mark, property, trait; custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), way, wont; addiction; abnormality, neuroticism, perversion, weirdness; disposition, genius, leaning, partiality; bent, inclination, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn; attitude, character, humor, identity, individuality, nature, personality, temperament

Near Antonyms: conformity, sameness

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Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal