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Idiosyncrasies: meaning, definitions and examples

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idiosyncrasies

 

[ ˌɪd.i.əˈsɪŋ.krə.si ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

personal quirks

Idiosyncrasies are unique or peculiar traits or habits that an individual has, which set them apart from others. These quirks can range from harmless preferences to more eccentric behaviors.

Synonyms

eccentricities, peculiarities, quirks

Examples of usage

  • He has the idiosyncrasy of always wearing mismatched socks.
  • One of her idiosyncrasies is that she alphabetizes her book collection by color rather than title.
Context #2 | Noun

unusual characteristics

Idiosyncrasies can also refer to unusual characteristics or features of a particular thing or system. These unique traits may be distinctive or peculiar compared to the norm.

Synonyms

distinctive features, peculiar traits, unique characteristics

Examples of usage

  • The idiosyncrasies of the antique clock made it difficult to repair.
  • The software's idiosyncrasies required a specialized approach to troubleshooting.

Translations

Translations of the word "idiosyncrasies" in other languages:

🇵🇹 idiossincrasias

🇮🇳 स्वाभाविक विशेषताएँ

🇩🇪 Eigenheiten

🇮🇩 keanehan

🇺🇦 особливості

🇵🇱 idiosynkrazje

🇯🇵 特異性

🇫🇷 particularités

🇪🇸 idiosincrasias

🇹🇷 aykırılıklar

🇰🇷 특이성

🇸🇦 تفردات

🇨🇿 svéráznosti

🇸🇰 idiosynkrázie

🇨🇳 特质

🇸🇮 posebnosti

🇮🇸 sérkenni

🇰🇿 ерекшеліктер

🇬🇪 იდიოსინკრაზიები

🇦🇿 idiosinkraziyalar

🇲🇽 idiosincrasias

Etymology

The term 'idiosyncrasy' originated from the Greek words 'idios,' meaning 'one's own,' and 'synkrasis,' meaning 'temperament.' It first appeared in English in the mid-17th century, referring to individual peculiarities or characteristics. Over time, the word has come to encompass a broader range of unique traits and behaviors, both personal and inanimate.

See also: idiosyncratic.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,020, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.