Eccentricity: meaning, definitions and examples

🤪
Add to dictionary

eccentricity

 

[ ɪkˌsɛnˈtrɪsɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

personality trait

Eccentricity refers to the quality of being unconventional or slightly strange. It often involves behavior that is different from what is considered normal or expected.

Synonyms

oddity, peculiarity, quirkiness

Examples of usage

  • She is known for her eccentricity, always wearing brightly colored clothes.
  • His eccentricity shines through in his unique artwork.
Context #2 | Noun

mathematics

In mathematics, eccentricity is a measure of how much a conic section, such as an ellipse or a hyperbola, deviates from being circular.

Synonyms

deviation, elongation

Examples of usage

  • The eccentricity of this ellipse is 0.5, making it more elongated than a circle.

Translations

Translations of the word "eccentricity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excentricidade

🇮🇳 विचित्रता

🇩🇪 Exzentrizität

🇮🇩 keanehan

🇺🇦 ексцентричність

🇵🇱 ekscentryczność

🇯🇵 風変わり

🇫🇷 excentricité

🇪🇸 excentricidad

🇹🇷 eksantriklik

🇰🇷 기이함

🇸🇦 غَرابة

🇨🇿 excentricita

🇸🇰 excentricita

🇨🇳 古怪

🇸🇮 ekscentričnost

🇮🇸 sérviska

🇰🇿 эксцентричность

🇬🇪 ექსცენტრიულობა

🇦🇿 eksantriklik

🇲🇽 excentricidad

Etymology

The word 'eccentricity' comes from the Late Latin word 'eccentricitas', which in turn is derived from the Greek word 'ekkentros' meaning 'out of the center'. The term was originally used in reference to celestial bodies that did not follow the expected circular paths. Over time, it evolved to also describe unconventional behavior in people.

See also: eccentricities, eccentrics.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,077, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.