eccentricity

noun

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

plural eccentricities

Definition of eccentricity

1a : the quality or state of being eccentric

b : deviation from an established pattern or norm especially : odd or whimsical behavior

2a : 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 Example Sentences Learn More about eccentricity

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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

Each brought a special joy, an irreducible quirk, a unique, surprising eccentricity. — Mark Oppenheimer, WSJ, "Yes, We Really Do Want to Have a Fifth Child," 24 Aug. 2018 Yet despite the diversity on display, the playful eccentricity unique to Risso guided their hands—and in Page’s case, resulted in one awfully clever discovery. — Monica Kim, Vogue, "This Unexpectedly Brilliant Black Shadow Is the Marni Woman’s Secret Weapon," 22 Feb. 2019 Some familiar faces return, including those of Charlie Day and Burn Gorman as eccentric scientists — one of whose eccentricities have grown pronouncedly more extreme. — Glenn Kenny, New York Times, "Review: In ‘Pacific Rim Uprising,’ Scary Monsters and Super Robots," 21 Mar. 2018 At Milan Fashion Week that February, the Italian brand introduced a new creative director, Alessandro Michele, whose style was all about eccentricity, romanticism, and ruffles. — Eliza Brooke, Vox, "How the Great Recession influenced a decade of design," 27 Dec. 2018 Travel fosters eccentricity, in the truest sense of the word. — Klara Glowczewska, Town & Country, "Why I Still Travel," 19 July 2016 Prior work suggested that the most likely explanation for this orbital eccentricity was gravitational tug-of-war between exoplanets. — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, "Wandering Rogue Moons May Be As Common As Stars," 19 Mar. 2018 And a large part of that is a desire to avoid spoiling the game's eccentricities. — Julie Muncy, Ars Technica, "Hitman 2 review: Accessible stealth oozing with style," 16 Nov. 2018 An energy-packed, vibrant tome brimming with eccentricity, color, beauty, patterns, movement and whimsy, Fashionable Selby will draw you in and keep you flipping page after page. — Kristen Bateman, Harper's BAZAAR, "Book Corner: Fashionable Selby," 17 Mar. 2014

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