Anomaly
/əˈnɑːməli/
nounC1
Definition
An anomaly is a thing or event that does not follow the usual pattern or rule. It is different from what people normally see or expect. Anomalies can happen in nature, science, or daily life, and they often catch attention because they stand out.
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See It in Action
Something unusual or unexpected that does not fit a pattern
- •The scientist found an anomaly in the data that did not match the other results.
- •The weather this year showed an anomaly with much colder temperatures than usual.
- •There was an anomaly in the test scores that surprised the teachers.
A rare or abnormal event or object
- •The bright star was an anomaly in the night sky filled with dim stars.
- •His behavior was an anomaly compared to the calmness of the group.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "anomaly" like "strange" or "different," but more formal and used for unusual facts or events
- ✓Picture a group of white birds flying together, and suddenly one bird is bright red—that red bird is the anomaly
- ✓It's the feeling when you find one blue sock in a drawer full of black socks—something that does not fit the usual pattern
- ✓Sounds like "uh-NOM-uh-lee" → imagine a "no-mee" (no me) sign on something that does not belong or fit in
- ✓In stories, an anomaly might be a character who breaks all the rules or a strange event that surprises everyone
- ✓NOT like "normal" (usual or expected), anomaly is the opposite—it is the exception, not the rule
- ✓NOT like "error" (a mistake), an anomaly may not be wrong, just unusual or unexpected
- ✓NOT like "pattern" (a regular way), anomaly is something that breaks or does not fit the pattern
Try Other Words
- •Irregularity: something not regular or usual (Use when the difference is about rules or patterns)
- •Exception: something that does not follow a rule (Use when focusing on being different from a general rule)
- •Deviation: a difference from the normal way (Use in scientific or statistical contexts)
- •Abnormality: something not normal (Use when the difference is about health or natural conditions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "a-" (not, without) + root "nom" (from Greek "nomos" meaning law or rule) + suffix "-aly" (noun form)
- •Etymology: From Greek "anomalos," meaning uneven or irregular
- •Historical development: First used in English in the early 1600s to describe things that do not follow natural laws or patterns
- •Modern usage: Used in science, statistics, medicine, and everyday language to describe unusual or unexpected things or events
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of an anomaly in your life, a time when something unexpected happened?
•How do you feel when you notice an anomaly—does it make you curious, worried, or excited?
Fill in the blanks
1.The scientist noticed an anomaly in the experiment results that did not ___ with the usual pattern.
2.When the weather was much colder than normal, people called it a weather ___.
3.Unlike a simple mistake, an anomaly is often ___ and needs explanation.
4.The bright red bird was an anomaly because it was ___ from the other white birds.
5.In statistics, an anomaly shows a ___ from the expected average or rule.
6.The doctor found an anomaly in the patient's test, which was ___ from healthy results.
7.When something is an anomaly, it usually ___ attention because it is unusual or rare.