eccentricity

noun

ec·​cen·​tric·​i·​ty ˌek-(ˌ)sen-ˈtri-sə-tē 

plural eccentricities

1

a

: the quality or state of being eccentric

b

: deviation from an established pattern or norm

especially : odd or whimsical behavior

2

a

: a mathematical constant that for a given conic section is the ratio of the distances from any point of the conic section to a focus and the corresponding directrix

b

: the eccentricity of an astronomical orbit used as a measure of its deviation from circularity

Synonyms

• crotchet
• curiosity
• erraticism
• idiosyncrasy
• individualism
• kink
• mannerism
• oddity
• peculiarity
• quiddity
• quip
• quirk
• singularity
• tic
• trick
• twist

Examples of eccentricity in a Sentence

Some people weren't very tolerant of his eccentricity.

Talking to her plants is one of her many eccentricities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Swift plays it straight in her duets with Florence Welch and Post Malone, selling unadorned emotion while her guests lean into the eccentricities in their vocal deliveries. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2024

If other CEOs in this series indicate some hints of eccentricity or peculiar personality traits, in our more personal questions, Reynal displayed none of it, either. —Phil Wahba, Fortune Europe, 14 July 2023

On top of that, a spark of originality or eccentricity should really pay off when the Moon finally sextiles rebel Uranus, also in Taurus. —Tarot.com, Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2024

Others offer alternative explanations for Assange’s eccentricities. —Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin excentricitāt-, excentricitās, from ecentricus, excentricus "not having the earth exactly at its center, eccentric entry 1" + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

eccentricity

noun

ec·​cen·​tric·​i·​ty ˌek-ˌsen-ˈtris-ət-ē 

plural eccentricities

1

a

: the quality or state of being eccentric

b

: something that does not follow an established pattern, norm, or rule

especially : unusual behavior

2

: the amount by which a nearly circular path is not circular

an orbit's eccentricity