Word
idiosyncratic
Phoneticsidio·syn·cratic
US/ˌɪdioʊˌsɪnˈkɹætɪk/
UK/ˌɪdɪˌɒsɪŋkɹˈætɪk/
Definition
adj. unusual or specific to one particular person or thing. You use this word to describe habits, tastes, or methods that are unique to someone and might seem a bit strange to others.
adj. peculiar to a specific individual, group, or thing. The term frequently describes behaviours, methods, or characteristics that deviate noticeably from the norm in a highly personal way.
Examples
“His idiosyncratic way of making coffee involves three different machines.”
“The director's idiosyncratic visual style makes her films instantly recognizable, even if the plots are entirely conventional.”
“While the professor's idiosyncratic grading system initially confused the students, they eventually realized it rewarded genuine intellectual risk-taking rather than mere rote memorization.”
Examples
simple
“His idiosyncratic way of making coffee involves three different machines.”
contextual
“The director's idiosyncratic visual style makes her films instantly recognizable, even if the plots are entirely conventional.”
complex
“While the professor's idiosyncratic grading system initially confused the students, they eventually realized it rewarded genuine intellectual risk-taking rather than mere rote memorization.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb; frequently collocates with nouns like 'style', 'method', or 'behaviour'.
Real-World Examples
“It’s that his style of play is so idiosyncratic that the transition process inevitably becomes more difficult.” “All of it is presented with stellar art direction, idiosyncratic music and a jovial tone.” Etymology
From idiosyncrasy + -ic. By surface analysis, idio- + syn- + -cratic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/idiosyncratic