aberrant

adjective

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ab·er·rant | \ a-ˈber-ənt

, ə-, -ˈbe-rənt; ˈa-bə-rənt

, -ˌber-ənt, -ˌbe-rənt \

Definition of aberrant

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : deviating from the usual or natural type : atypical, abnormal aberrant behavior I don't intend to suggest that his psychology was in some way aberrant or neurotic …— Michael Chabon

2 : straying from the right or normal way aberrant misfits

aberrant

noun

Definition of aberrant (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a group, individual, or structure that is not normal or typical : an aberrant group, individual, or structure

2 : a person whose behavior departs substantially from the standard

Other Words from aberrant Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about aberrant

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Other Words from aberrant

Adjective

aberrance \ a-ˈber-ən(t)s

, ə- , -ˈbe-rən(t)s ; ˈa-bə-rən(t)s

, -ˌber-ən(t)s , -ˌbe-rən(t)s \ noun

aberrantly adverb

Examples of aberrant in a Sentence

Adjective The stones, silvered in the moon's aberrant light, shone like spectral tombs, and the figures, which Dalgliesh knew were Helena, Lettie and the Bostocks, became discarnate shapes disappearing into the darkness. — P. D. James, The Private Patient, 2008 … as if he had happily spied an aberrant crocus amid the wintry gray scene of Presidential impeachment. — Francis X. Clines, New York Times, 8 Jan. 1999 … at the brief and aberrant moment in time when it was possible to believe that America owed its great place in the world to its military and moral virtue rather than to the weight of its currency. — Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, March 1992 a year of aberrant weather—record rainfall in the summer, record heat in the autumn aberrant behavior can be a sign of rabies in a wild animal

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective But failed or aberrant immunity to the coronavirus is unlikely to be the norm. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, "We’re Thinking About Reinfection All Wrong," 24 Feb. 2021 Also beyond just targeting aberrant immune activity, drug companies could pursue compounds that increase the brain’s ability to compensate. — Bret Stetka, Scientific American, "Think of Multiple Sclerosis as a Leaking Swimming Pool," 18 June 2015 The problem with this particular breed of social media stunt is that the performance amplifies the aberrant motives and tendencies of these members of Congress, and this can cause real, serious harm. — Laura Bassett, The New Republic, "All That’s Left of Trumpism Is Hilariously Stupid, Deadly Serious Social Media Stunts," 15 Jan. 2021 The institution was then all male, and the powers that ran it had an astonishing tolerance for aberrant behavior. — David E. Petzal, Field & Stream, "What Would You Do with the Last Box of .22 Ammunition?," 27 Nov. 2020 At 17 weeks, Ewoldt underwent surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to seal and disconnect the twins' aberrant vessels. — Sarah Kay Leblanc, USA TODAY, "Beating the odds: The world's most premature twins to celebrate 2nd birthday," 23 Nov. 2020 Facing an electorate already fatigued by his aberrant conduct, the president effectively sealed his defeat by minimizing a pandemic that has created simultaneous health and economic crises. — Jonathan Martin, New York Times, "Biden Wins Presidency, Ending Four Tumultuous Years Under Trump," 7 Nov. 2020 The most aberrant detail of the investigation was Mueller’s decision not to compel the president to be deposed in person: a fateful choice, hard to explain on any grounds except reluctance to precipitate a constitutional crisis. — David Bromwich, Harper's Magazine, "Is America Ungovernable?," 27 Oct. 2020 For Stella McCartney, this particularly aberrant year called for a raw, visceral campaign and a wholly human approach. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "See Stella McCartney’s Touching Portrait Series for Breast Cancer Awareness Month," 23 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aberrant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for aberrant

Adjective

borrowed from Latin aberrant-, aberrans, present participle of aberrāre "to wander away, stray, go wrong," from ab- ab- + errāre "to wander, drift, be in error" — more at err

Noun

noun derivative of aberrant entry 1

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