ENGLISH
REFERENCE

erratic

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ɪˈɹætɪk// UK //ɛɹˈætɪk// er·rat·ic

adj. moving or behaving in a way that is not regular or certain. You use this to describe something that changes suddenly and is hard to predict.

adj. characterised by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity. Often describes movement, behaviour, or data patterns that deviate from expected paths.


SIMPLE

The car's erratic movements made the other drivers nervous.

CONTEXTUAL

The stock market has shown erratic behavior lately, with prices jumping up and down for no clear reason.

COMPLEX

Despite the athlete's undeniable talent, his erratic training schedule and unpredictable mood swings eventually led the coach to remove him from the starting lineup.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English erratik, erratyk, from Latin errāticus; compare Old French erratique.

Usage

Often used to describe physical motion, weather patterns, or human behavior; frequently follows linking verbs like 'become' or 'remain'.

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