idiosyncrasy
noun
id·i·o·syn·cra·sy
ˌi-dē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē 
plural idiosyncrasies
1
: a peculiarity of constitution, behavior, or temperament : an individualizing characteristic or quality
idiosyncrasies of speech
… Byzantine describes the style that developed in the eastern Roman Empire. … Its idiosyncrasy was influenced by the abundance of hard stone, the shortage of wood, the eastern love of surface ornament, and the classical tradition.—
Philip Howard
Philip HowardWhen you know someone a long time, you become accustomed to their idiosyncrasies, which is a fancy word for their unique habits.—Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)
Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)GE executives examine each country's idiosyncrasies microscopically, then tailor a mix of products … and retail approaches to wring the best performance from each.—Linda Grant
Linda Grant
broadly
: eccentricity
Keeping elaborate files isn't Scheer's only idiosyncrasy; she has the strange habit of holding a pencil between her second and ring fingers … —Donald J. Barr
Donald J. Barr 2
: an unusual part or feature of something
From tiny, barely visible lines and dots to serif and non-serif typography … the world of vintage Rolex is positively filled with quirky idiosyncrasies …—Oren Hartov
Oren Hartov3
: individual hypersensitiveness (as to a drug or food)
The skin rash was considered to be due to a drug idiosyncrasy.
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
His own composer as usual, Amenabar here tends to underline the film’s shortcomings, rather than elevate its idiosyncrasies with an original score that’s too conventional by half.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
This has been the friction that’s underneath all of the idiosyncrasy.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Sprites is the very best idiosyncrasies of Britain that comedy and horror audiences around the world have loved so much since Monty Python.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
But independence can also seem like idiosyncrasy, or merely choosing different corners to cut.
—Helen Ouyang, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idiosyncrasy
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Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
This has been the friction that’s underneath all of the idiosyncrasy.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Sprites is the very best idiosyncrasies of Britain that comedy and horror audiences around the world have loved so much since Monty Python.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
But independence can also seem like idiosyncrasy, or merely choosing different corners to cut.
—Helen Ouyang, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idiosyncrasy
Cite this Entry
“Idiosyncrasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiosyncrasy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
idiosyncrasy
noun
id·io·syn·cra·sy
ˌid-ē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē
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
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