Idiosyncrasy
/ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkrəsi/
nounC2
Definition
An idiosyncrasy is a small, often strange or unique behavior, habit, or way of thinking that belongs to one person or sometimes a group. It is different from what most people do and makes someone or something special or unusual.
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See It in Action
A unique or unusual habit or behavior of a person
- •Her idiosyncrasy is to always organize her books by color.
- •One of his idiosyncrasies is talking to himself while working.
- •The teacher's idiosyncrasy of wearing a hat made students smile.
A special characteristic or feature of a thing or group
- •The idiosyncrasy of this language is its very long words.
- •Each culture has its own idiosyncrasies that make it special.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "idiosyncrasy" like "habit" (A1 word), but it is more unusual or personal—something that only one person does in a special way.
- ✓Picture a friend who always taps their foot when nervous—this small action is their idiosyncrasy.
- ✓It's the feeling of noticing something funny or unique about someone that makes them different and interesting.
- ✓Sounds like "id-ee-oh-SINK-cruh-see" → imagine a sink with water flowing in a very strange, unique way, different from all other sinks.
- ✓Think of famous characters in stories who have small, unique habits, like Sherlock Holmes' way of thinking or a teacher who always wears colorful socks.
- ✓NOT like "routine" (a usual repeated action done by many), an idiosyncrasy is personal and often unexpected.
- ✓NOT like "quirk" (also a small unusual habit), but idiosyncrasy can be more formal and covers broader unique traits.
- ✓NOT like "personality" (whole character), an idiosyncrasy is just one small part of a person's behavior or way.
Try Other Words
- •Quirk: a small, unusual habit or feature (Use when speaking informally about strange or funny behaviors)
- •Peculiarity: a strange or unusual feature (Use when emphasizing something odd or different)
- •Trait: a characteristic or quality (Use when talking about parts of personality or nature)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "idio-" (personal, own) + "syncrasy" (mixture or combination)
- •Etymology: From Greek "idiosynkrasía," meaning a personal mixture or temperament
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe a person’s unique physical or mental constitution; later used for habits or features
- •Modern usage: Used to describe unique habits, behaviors, or features that make someone or something different from others
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of an idiosyncrasy you have that makes you different from others?
•How do idiosyncrasies help us understand and appreciate people’s uniqueness?
Fill in the blanks
1.Her idiosyncrasy of ___ every morning helps her feel calm before work.
2.An idiosyncrasy is different from a habit because it is usually ___ or special to one person.
3.When someone laughs loudly at quiet moments, it is an example of an ___.
4.People often notice idiosyncrasies when they spend a lot of ___ with someone.
5.Unlike a common routine, an idiosyncrasy is often seen as ___ or surprising.
6.The artist’s idiosyncrasy made her paintings ___ from others in the gallery.
7.You can tell a lot about a person by their ___ and small unique behaviors.