idiosyncratic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of idiosyncratic
First recorded in 1750–60; equivalent to idio- ( def. ) + Greek sýnkrat(os) “closely united” + -ic ( def. ); cf. 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
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
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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.
“She told me to do it myself,” Lee says, “as she designed her own gardens herself, and they are idiosyncratic just like she is.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
"Pakistani leaders are conducting shuttle diplomacy throughout the Middle East. The question is whether it is transitory and merely the product of the US president's idiosyncratic preferences."
From BBC • May 7, 2026
There are idiosyncratic reasons for the modest wage growth in certain immigrant-heavy sectors, such high interest rates weighing on home construction.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
Third, investments are diversified across industries, geographies and credit strategies, which limits exposure to idiosyncratic shocks.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026
The opinions he expressed in print, argued with idiosyncratic logic, were all over the map.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
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.
