idiosyncrasy

noun id·i·o·syn·cra·sy \ ˌi-dē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē \

|Updated on: 3 Jul 2018

Examples: idiosyncrasy in a Sentence

Definition of idiosyncrasy

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

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idiosyncratic

play \ˌi-dē-ō-(ˌ)sin-ˈkra-tik\ adjective

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idiosyncratically

play \ˌi-dē-ō-(ˌ)sin-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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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 idiosyncracies.

Recent Examples of idiosyncrasy from the Web

Only family and friends are invited, and the intimate setting reveals some idiosyncrasies of mixed martial arts that often go unseen and unheard.

— robert klemko, SI.com, "Greg Hardy, the UFC and the Limits of the Second Chance," 25 June 2018
He was also known for personal idiosyncrasies, such as confiscating neckties of employees, salespeople or customers.

— benjamin oreskes, latimes.com, "Essential California: The richest and the poorest in Congress," 6 Mar. 2018
Raccoons share such idiosyncrasies with humans as grabby forepaws, an affinity for the suburbs, and an inability to resist gorging themselves on what amounts to garbage.

— SFChronicle.com, "Last Word: The raccoon that rose above," 15 June 2018
Those nights, complaining of the beautiful idiosyncrasies of New York life, were the best conversations with my late father.

— New York Times, "True Tales of ‘Sex and the City’," 6 June 2018
In this style of poetry reading, those idiosyncrasies … get subordinated to this repetitive cadence.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Analysis Breaks Down the Annoying “Poet Voice”," 7 May 2018
Both parties are bringing their stuff — opinions, beliefs, idiosyncrasies — to the interaction.

— veronica mitchell, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ask Veronica — Walk a mental mile in their shoes," 16 May 2018
As Ars has described previously, domain fronting uses an idiosyncrasy of how some content delivery networks (CDNs) used by major Internet services work.

— sean gallagher, Ars Technica, "Amazon blocks domain fronting, threatens to shut down Signal’s account," 2 May 2018
Given the score's rhythmic complexity and harmonic idiosyncrasies (sly integrations of modal and medieval harmonies), the choral performance, under Alex Monroe's musical direction, is nearly unimpeachable.

— justin hayford, Chicago Reader, "Facility Theatre presents an intricate, complicated Little Match Girl Passion," 19 Apr. 2018

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