idiosyncratic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- idiosyncratically adverb
Etymology
Origin of idiosyncratic
First recorded in 1750–60; equivalent to idio- ( def. ) + Greek sýnkrat(os) “closely united” + -ic ( def. ); syn- ( def. ), crater
Explanation
Idiosyncratic means unique to an individual. Albert Einstein famously had lots of idiosyncratic habits. For example, he rarely wore socks, and he talked to his cat. One thing that Einstein definitely wasn't was an idiot. Yet idiosyncratic and idiot are related. Idio is ancient Greek for "one's own." An idiosyncratic person is someone who does things in his own way. And the original meaning of idiot was basically "a regular Joe" — an ordinary person who keeps to himself.
Vocabulary lists containing idiosyncratic
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Into the Wild
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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.
This state election was idiosyncratic in the way local elections around the world always are.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
Making a purposefully idiosyncratic retelling of a classic tale came with its own challenges.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026
The structure of his stream is a bit more idiosyncratic compared to the others I encountered: Williams often holds polls in his live chat, determining what threads he should investigate next.
From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026
Chronert says this sets the market up for much more idiosyncratic behavior as investors strive to distinguish between companies most impacted by AI and those that may maintain a competitive edge.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026
It seems taken for granted in America that life for idiosyncratic, individualistic kids is brutal.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
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.
