Word
Definitions
01unconventional behaviour
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. behaving in a way that is slightly strange or unusual, but often in a harmless or interesting way.
adj. deviating from established social norms or conventional patterns; typically used to describe personality or lifestyle in a non-pejorative way.
“The old professor was known for his eccentric habit of wearing two different shoes.”
“Her eccentric lifestyle, which included living in a converted lighthouse and keeping a pet llama, made her a local celebrity.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02not circular
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. not perfectly round; having an oval or elliptical shape.
adj. deviating from a perfect circle; in astronomy, describing an orbit that is elliptical rather than circular.
“The planet follows an eccentric path around its star.”
“The comet's highly eccentric orbit brings it close to the sun only once every few centuries, spending most of its time in the outer solar system.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03off-center
C1 · Advanced Technical
adj. not placed in the middle or having a different center point than something else.
adj. not situated in the center; having a different center from another geometric figure.
“The designer chose an eccentric layout for the buttons to make the jacket look unique.”
“The engineer noted that the eccentric placement of the weight was causing the machine to vibrate excessively at high speeds.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04an unusual person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who has unusual habits or beliefs.
n. an individual who deviates from conventional or accepted social behaviour.
“The town was full of eccentrics who didn't care what their neighbours thought.”
“History remembers him as a brilliant eccentric who spent his entire fortune on a failed attempt to build a flying machine.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05mechanical part
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Engineering Technical
n. a wheel or part of a machine that is not fixed in the center, used to change circular motion into straight motion.
n. a disk or wheel mounted off-center on a shaft, used to convert rotary motion into reciprocating motion.
“The steam engine uses an eccentric to move the valves back and forth.”
“The technician adjusted the eccentric on the drive shaft to ensure the piston reached its full range of motion without striking the cylinder head.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“I've got no idea why this was done."
Pakistan have a history of making eccentric decisions in the wake of defeats.” “Here, the eccentric inventor Mrs Armitage makes repeated attempts to visit her cousin two villages down.” Etymology
From Middle French excentrique, from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Ancient Greek ἔκκεντρος (ékkentros, “not having the earth as the center of an orbit”), from ἐκ (ek, “out”) + κέντρον (kéntron, “point”). Equivalent to ex- + -centric.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/eccentric
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0