erratic

[ ih-rat-ik ]

adjective

1. deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion; eccentric:

   erratic behavior.

   Synonyms: capricious, unstable, unpredictable

   Antonyms: stable, regular, consistent

2. inconsistent, irregular, or unpredictable:

   Many factors affect purchasing power, such as inflation and erratic swings in the stock market.

3. having no certain or definite course or pattern; wandering; not fixed:

   erratic winds.

4. Geology. noting or pertaining to a boulder or the like carried by glacial ice and deposited some distance from its place of origin.
5. (of a lichen) having no attachment to the surface on which it grows.

noun

1. an erratic or eccentric person.
2. Geology. an erratic boulder or the like.

erratic

/ ɪˈrætɪk /

adjective

1. irregular in performance, behaviour, or attitude; inconsistent and unpredictable
2. having no fixed or regular course; wandering

noun

1. a piece of rock that differs in composition, shape, etc, from the rock surrounding it, having been transported from its place of origin, esp by glacial action
2. an erratic person or thing

Derived Forms

• erˈratically, adverb

Other Words From

• er·rat·i·cal·ly adverb
• er·rat·i·cism noun
• non·er·rat·ic adjective noun
• un·er·rat·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of erratic¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin errāticus, equivalent to errāt(us) (past participle of errāre “to make a mistake, err” ( err ) + -icus -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of erratic¹

C14: from Latin errāticus, from errāre to wander, err

Example Sentences

Moreover, snowballing agricultural crises like avian flu and ASF can make meat prices extremely erratic.

From Time

The state agency has tried to give local health providers consistent information about how many doses they’ll receive at their clinics and hospitals, but Avula said state officials will have to instead explain the erratic allocations.

From ProPublica

Until relatively recently, the Mid-Atlantic was a region where the winters seemed longer, colder and, most importantly, not so erratic.

From Washington Post

A startup CEO told us how she fundraised while quarantining with six children, and a newspaper editor shared how she kept up with an erratic news cycle while helping her seven kids learn from home.

From Fortune

A wave of populism has led many governments around the world to rule in an increasingly erratic fashion.

From Fortune

The animation is beautifully rendered and the storytelling top notch even if the pacing is, at times, erratic.

From The Daily Beast

Her arms strapped back, Lehmberg tells the officials “this erratic behavior is going to ruin my career.”

From The Daily Beast

In the months following the alleged incident, his behavior became erratic.

From The Daily Beast

John McCain was an erratic RINO who turned a hundred years old on the campaign trail.

From The Daily Beast

His erratic behaviour in handling Russian oil pipelines prompted Moscow to seek alternative routes of supply.

From The Daily Beast

Of course they have made up their minds you are erratic, and have not the least doubt that they can manipulate that loose screw.

From Project Gutenberg

It was as though, where everything was strange, Henri's erratic comings and goings were but a part with the rest.

From Project Gutenberg

An erratic firefly wandered down from the overhanging branches, then commenced to dart from side to side near her head.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a hopeless fight, and has sent into the erratic political parties the majority of the independent working men now in them.

From Project Gutenberg

So far the sentiment had been rather more doubtful and erratic than determined.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abnormal
• arbitrary
• bizarre
• capricious
• eccentric
• inconsistent
• irregular
• mercurial
• uncertain
• unreliable
• unstable
• unusual
• volatile
• wayward
• weird
• whimsical