Anomaly
noun /əˈnɒm.ə.li/ — Something that deviates from the expected pattern.
Definition
Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; an irregularity or inconsistency that stands apart from the surrounding pattern.
Beyond the definition
Anomaly carries the quiet electricity of the thing that doesn't fit. In data it's a red flag; in a person it's what makes them interesting. The anomaly is the crack in the pattern — and often the most important thing in the room.
Origin & history
From Greek anomalos ('uneven, irregular'), from an- ('not') + homalos ('even'). Literally: the uneven one.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The sudden drop in temperature was an anomaly for midsummer.
With her quiet nature, she was an anomaly in her exuberant family.
Scientists flagged the data point as an anomaly requiring further investigation.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Anomaly” when the meaning fits your context: Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; an irregularity or inconsistency that stands apart from the surrounding pattern.
Synonyms
aberration, abnormality, deviation, irregularity, oddity
Antonyms
norm, regularity, conformity, standard
Related words
- aberration
- outlier
- irregularity
- deviation
Anomaly vs aberration
An aberration can describe both a statistical deviation and a moral or behavioural departure from a norm — 'his cruelty was an aberration, out of character'. Anomaly is more neutral and data-oriented: something that simply doesn't fit the pattern, without necessarily implying it shouldn't. A scientist looks for anomalies in data; a judge considers whether behaviour was an aberration. Anomaly is descriptive; aberration can carry a note of judgment.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Isolated figure in busy office
An adult stands in a bustling modern office, looking confused and disconnected while colleagues around them move in a different way.
The figure stands out as an irregularity against the surrounding pattern of activity. The visual disconnect illustrates an anomaly—someone who does not fit the standard, expected rhythm of the environment they inhabit.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Anomaly" mean?
Anomaly is noun meaning: Something that deviates from the expected pattern.. Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; an irregularity or inconsistency that stands apart from the surrounding pattern.
Where does the word "Anomaly" come from?
From Greek anomalos ('uneven, irregular'), from an- ('not') + homalos ('even'). Literally: the uneven one.