idiosyncratic

American  

[id-ee-oh-sin-krat-ik, -sing-] / ˌɪd i oʊ sɪnˈkræt ɪk, -sɪŋ- /

adjective

1. pertaining to the nature of idiosyncrasy, or something peculiar to an individual.

   The best minds are idiosyncratic and unpredictable as they follow the course of scientific discovery.

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idiosyncratic British  

/ ˌɪdɪəʊsɪŋˈkrætɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to idiosyncrasy; characteristic of a specific person

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• idiosyncratically
  adverb

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.

Related Words

• characteristic
• distinctive
• individual
• peculiar
• singular
• specific
• unique