Words / C2

ab-uh-RAYSHUN/ˌæbəˈreɪʃn/

An aberration is something that is not typical, usually a one-off mistake or oddity: a statistical aberration, an aberration from her usual standard. Oddity and blip are everyday; anomaly is a close technical cousin; deviation is cooler and more measured. Aberrant is the adjective. Formal. In speech, a one-off or a blip is enough. An aberration is untypical, not a new trend. Do not rebrand a pattern of failure as an aberration to protect a reputation.

Meaning

Something that is not typical and is usually a one-off mistake or oddity.

Examples

• “The low score was an aberration, not the trend.”
• “The low score was an aberration, not the trend: the next three papers recovered.”
• “Calling the outburst an aberration convinced nobody who had sat through the term.”

Good to know

A one-off oddity; not the rule. Formal. Everyday: blip / one-off. Close: anomaly. Adjective: aberrant. Contrast: a trend or habit you are pretending is unique.

Near in meaning

anomaly

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