eccentric

especially British, ex·cen·tric

[ik-sen-trik, ek-]

adjective

1. deviating from the recognized or customary character, practice, etc.; irregular; erratic; peculiar; odd.

   eccentric conduct;

   an eccentric person.

   Synonyms: bizarre, weird, strange
   Antonyms: conventional, customary, ordinary, regular, normal

2. Geometry.,  not having the same center; not concentric: used especially of two circles or spheres at least one of which contains the centers of both.

3. (of an axis, axle, etc.) not situated in the center.

4. Machinery.,  having the axis or support away from the center.

   an eccentric wheel.

5. Astronomy.,  deviating from a circular form, as an elliptic orbit.

noun

1. a person who has an unusual, peculiar, or odd personality, set of beliefs, or behavior pattern.

2. something that is unusual, peculiar, or odd.

3. Machinery.,  a device for converting circular motion into rectilinear motion, consisting of a disk fixed somewhat off-center to a revolving shaft, and working freely in a surrounding collar eccentricstrap, to which a rod eccentricrod is attached.

eccentric

/ ɪkˈsɛntrɪk /

adjective

1. deviating or departing from convention, esp in a bizarre manner; irregular or odd

2. situated away from the centre or the axis

3. not having a common centre Compare concentric

   eccentric circles

4. not precisely circular

noun

1. a person who deviates from normal forms of behaviour, esp in a bizarre manner

2. a device for converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion

Other Word Forms

• eccentrical adjective
• eccentrically adverb
• noneccentric adjective
• noneccentrically adverb
• uneccentric adjective
• uneccentrically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of eccentric¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Greek ékkentr(os) “out of center” ( ec-, center ) + Latin -icus -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of eccentric¹

C16: from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Greek ekkentros out of centre, from ek- _ex- ¹ + kentron centre

Example Sentences

Mainstream entertainment feeds us lies: We’re all eccentrics struggling to find our way.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He had an owner, Chansiri, who was, to put it kindly, eccentric.

Read more on BBC

His tenure featured no high-profile heists but plenty of eccentric behavior: Some visitors tried to hang their own paintings on the museum’s walls.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The magician Ricky Jay’s compendium of actual “unique, eccentric and amazing entertainers” offers a parade of con artists, charlatans, escapologists, daredevils, mesmerists, contortionists and sideshow acts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Among these extreme planetary systems, the eccentric warm Jupiters stand out as some of the most fascinating.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• bizarre 
• curious 
• erratic 
• funny 
• idiosyncratic 
• kooky 
• nutty 
• odd 
• offbeat 
• outlandish 
• peculiar 
• quirky 
• strange 
• unconventional 
• weird 
• whimsical