# anomaly

/əˈnɑməɫi/ (US) · /ɐnˈɒməlˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anomaly
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a deviation from the norm

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

something that is unusual or different from what is normal.

For teachers: a deviation from a common rule, type, arrangement, or form; an outlier in a dataset or pattern.

- The snowstorm in the middle of summer was a complete anomaly.
- The researchers treated the sudden spike in temperature as a statistical anomaly rather than evidence of a new trend.

Usage: Often used with the indefinite article 'an' because it begins with a vowel sound.

### 2. a physical defect

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of the body that has not developed in the normal way.

For teachers: a structural or functional defect or malformation, especially one present from birth.

- The doctor explained that the heart anomaly was something he was born with.
- Advanced prenatal screening can now detect minor physical anomalies that might have gone unnoticed in previous decades.

### 3. astronomical angle

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific angle used to describe where a planet is in its orbit.

For teachers: any of several angular distances used to describe the position of a celestial body in its orbit.

- The scientist calculated the true anomaly to find the planet's exact location.
- To accurately predict the satellite's trajectory, the ground team had to account for the mean anomaly at the specific epoch.

## Examples

- The sudden drop in temperature was an anomaly.
- Scientists studied the anomaly in the data to understand why the results differed from previous tests.
- In a system governed by strict laws of physics, this anomaly remained an unexplained outlier that challenged existing theories.

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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.