aberrant

[uh-ber-uhnt, ab-er-]

adjective

1. departing from the right, normal, or usual course.

   Synonyms: wandering

2. deviating from the ordinary, usual, or normal type; exceptional; abnormal.

   Synonyms: unusual, divergent

noun

1. an aberrant person, thing, group, etc.

aberrant

/ æˈbɛrənt /

adjective

1. deviating from the normal or usual type, as certain animals from the group in which they are classified

2. behaving in an abnormal or untypical way

3. deviating from truth, morality, etc

Other Word Forms

• aberrance noun
• aberrancy noun
• aberrantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of aberrant¹

First recorded in 1820–30, aberrant is from the Latin word aberrant- (stem of aberrāns, present participle of aberrāre to deviate). See ab-, errant

Word History and Origins

Origin of aberrant¹

rare before c19: from the present participle of Latin aberrāre to wander away

Example Sentences

Colors become aberrant, shifting suddenly from greens into turquoise blue, while authentic nature steps aside for abstraction.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is just an aberrant episode in an otherwise productive life," she said, according to the Reuters news agency.

From BBC

Parents’ exposure to plastics was “consistently and significantly associated” with lower cognitive scores in their children who had autism, increases in “aberrant behaviors” and deficits in basic life skills, the study found.

From Salon

Trump's tsunami of aberrant and dangerous and unprecedented behavior continues and is speeding up.

From Salon

Again, the answer lies in the collective mindset of reality TV, whose fans are highly tolerant of aberrant behavior and quick to forgive missteps.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abnormal