# aberrator

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aberrator
Updated: 2026-06-22

## Definition

a person or thing that causes something to go off course or behave in a strange way. It is a very technical word used in science to describe things that bend light or change a path.

For teachers: an agent or instrument that causes deviation from a normal course or path. Primarily used in technical contexts, such as optics or biology, to describe entities that alter the trajectory of light or biological processes.

## Examples

- The aberrator caused the light to bend in an unexpected way.
- In the study of atmospheric optics, an aberrator is any object that disrupts the straight path of a light beam through the air.
- The researchers identified a specific genetic aberrator that, when introduced into the culture, caused the cells to exhibit abnormal growth patterns previously unseen in the control group.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.