idiosyncratic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to the nature of idiosyncrasy, or something peculiar to an individual.
The best minds are idiosyncratic and unpredictable as they follow the course of scientific discovery.
adjective
-
of or relating to idiosyncrasy; characteristic of a specific person
Other Word Forms
- idiosyncratically adverb
Etymology
Origin of idiosyncratic
First recorded in 1750–60; equivalent to idio- ( def. ) + Greek sýnkrat(os) “closely united” + -ic ( def. ); syn- ( def. ), crater
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So, in this instance, because of these unique and idiosyncratic facts, it really is quite possible that somebody’s head is going to roll.
From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026
Greenspan, who turns 100 on March 6, often peppered his responses and his speeches with idiosyncratic insights when he didn’t want to talk about interest rates.
From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026
There were too many styles, too many idiosyncratic approaches to the dramatic poetry.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026
One cannot simply look up a price quote for an idiosyncratic loan for which there is no secondary market.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026
Nevertheless, it remains an open question how wide and lasting the effects of idiosyncratic individuals on history really are.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.