Trivia Time

Which fictional captain becomes increasingly erratic in his pursuit of a white whale?

Test Your Knowledge

erratic

American  

[ih-rat-ik] / ɪˈræt ɪk /

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 British  

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• erraticism
  noun
• nonerratic
  adjective
• unerratic
  adjective
• erratically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of erratic

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

Explanation

The adjective erratic describes things that are unpredictable, unusual, and that deviate from the norm. An erratic quarterback might completely confuse his receivers waiting for a pass. Like its linguistic relative, error, the adjective erratic means "deviating from the norm," or "wrong." It also implies behavior or qualities that are unpredictable or odd. The word comes from the Latin verb errare, or "to wander" off course. In the field of geology, a rock that is erratic is unlike others in its environment because it has been transported by glacial activity. Likewise, someone driving a car that veers out of its lane is said to be driving erratically.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

erratic

Ten-year yields continued to rise in erratic trade Thursday, adding another 2.2 basis points to 5.138%—on track to settle above their previous highest close in July 2007.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Rising volatility and erratic price signals frequently result in these institutions withdrawing, reducing the capacity for investors to offload positions.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Despite his erratic behavior, former employees agree Kao hit upon an effective way to replace the lost earmarks.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

The planet's water cycle is becoming increasingly erratic, swinging between too little and too much, the United Nations warned Thursday, with an unprecedented El Nino expected to exacerbate the long-term trend.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

Mrs. Caruthers released the blankets and dragged herself out of the bed, her movements jerky and erratic, like they’d been the day Ophie had looked in the closet.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

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