idiosyncrasy

noun

id·​i·​o·​syn·​cra·​sy ˌi-dē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē How to pronounce idiosyncrasy (audio)
plural idiosyncrasies
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
idiosyncratic adjective
idiosyncratically adverb

Examples of idiosyncrasy in a Sentence

Her habit of using “like” in every sentence was just one of her idiosyncrasies. The current system has a few idiosyncrasies.
Recent Examples on the Web McGrath sent three different looks down the runway—all with their idiosyncrasies, but all undeniably graphic. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2024 Again Baby!, is a stunning pop-rock kiss-off to a lover who just cannot understand her idiosyncrasies. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 9 Feb. 2024 Not only does Harbaugh have no link to the Patriots, the Michigan coach would also be an odd fit as successor given his idiosyncrasies and nearly decade out of the NFL. USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024 The big brands that made the most waves — Loewe, Bottega Veneta and Miu Miu — did so because of their inherent idiosyncrasy, the willingness of the designers Jonathan Anderson, Matthieu Blazy and Miuccia Prada to pave their own peculiar paths. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2023 This investigative effort is further complicated by the current crisis’s additional idiosyncrasies. WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023 Lake points out that these quirks don’t align with the kinds of words children learn most quickly, which suggests the model has nonhuman idiosyncrasies. Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024 Football podcasts provide, as podcasts will, a useful mix of objective information and individual idiosyncrasy, and a year’s worth of listening makes some commonalities evident. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2024 While originally imagined as a bit part, showrunners Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss told Vanity Fair that it was beefed up to showcase Escola’s ability to mirror the idiosyncrasies of older women. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'idiosyncrasy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of idiosyncrasy was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near idiosyncrasy

Cite this Entry

“Idiosyncrasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiosyncrasy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

idiosyncrasy

noun
id·​io·​syn·​cra·​sy
ˌid-ē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē
plural idiosyncrasies
: a way of behaving or thinking that is characteristic of a person
idiosyncratic
ˌid-ē-ō-(ˌ)sin-ˈkrat-ik
adjective
idiosyncratically
-ˈkrat-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

Medical Definition

idiosyncrasy

noun
id·​io·​syn·​cra·​sy ˌid-ē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē How to pronounce idiosyncrasy (audio)
plural idiosyncrasies
1
: a peculiarity of physical or mental constitution or temperament
2
: individual hypersensitiveness (as to a drug or food)
anemia accompanying the use of a sulfa drug is usually considered to be due to idiosyncrasy

More from Merriam-Webster on idiosyncrasy

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