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vagary

American  
[vuh-gair-ee, vey-guh-ree] / vəˈgɛər i, ˈveɪ gə ri /

noun

PLURAL

vagaries

  1. an unpredictable or erratic action, occurrence, course, or instance.

    the vagaries of weather; the vagaries of the economic scene.

  2. a whimsical, wild, or unusual idea, desire, or action.

    Synonyms:
    crotchet , quirk , whim , caprice
vagary British  
/ vəˈɡɛərɪ, ˈveɪɡərɪ /

noun

  1. an erratic or outlandish notion or action; whim

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of vagary

1565–75, in sense “wandering journey”; apparently < Latin vagārī to wander

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.

Isabella Dalla Ragione hunts in abandoned gardens and orchards for forgotten fruits, preserving Italy's agricultural heritage and saving varieties which could help farmers withstand the vagaries of a changing climate.

From Barron's

But you will also have to deal with other uncertainties, including the vagaries of the market.

From MarketWatch

But many older buyers are relatively insulated from the vagaries of the economy.

From MarketWatch

Other differences pop up thanks to the vagaries of data.

From Los Angeles Times

The vagaries of the new league system last season saw Liverpool meet eventual winners PSG in the last 16, where they lost on penalties at Anfield.

From BBC

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.