Idiosyncrasy

B2 16+

Pronunciation: /ˌɪdi.əˈsɪŋ.krə.si/

Definitions of idiosyncrasy

noun an unusual feature or trait that distinguishes a person or thing

Example Sentences

A1 Her idiosyncrasy is that she always wears mismatched socks.

A2 One of his idiosyncrasies is that he refuses to eat anything green.

B1 The professor's teaching style had its own idiosyncrasies that students either loved or hated.

B2 The artist's idiosyncrasy of painting only in shades of blue made him stand out in the art world.

C1 The CEO's idiosyncrasies were well-known among the company employees, but they respected his leadership nonetheless.

C2 Despite her idiosyncrasies, the author's unique writing style garnered critical acclaim and a large following.

Examples of idiosyncrasy in a Sentence

formal The scientist's idiosyncrasy was his insistence on wearing mismatched socks to work every day.

informal Her idiosyncrasy is that she always eats her pizza crust first.

slang His idiosyncrasy is being a total germaphobe.

figurative The company's idiosyncrasy of allowing employees to bring their pets to work set them apart from other businesses.

Grammatical Forms of idiosyncrasy

plural

idiosyncrasies

comparative

more idiosyncratic

superlative

most idiosyncratic

present tense

has idiosyncrasies

future tense

will have idiosyncrasies

perfect tense

has had idiosyncrasies

continuous tense

is having idiosyncrasies

singular

idiosyncrasy

positive degree

idiosyncratic

infinitive

to have idiosyncrasies

gerund

having idiosyncrasies

participle

had idiosyncrasies

Origin and Evolution of idiosyncrasy

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Greek
Story behind the word: The word 'idiosyncrasy' originated from the Greek words 'idios', meaning 'one's own', and 'synkrasis', meaning 'mixture'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in medicine to describe a person's unique bodily constitution, 'idiosyncrasy' has evolved to refer to unique characteristics or quirks in a person's behavior or personality.