eccentricity
C1formal, academic, literary
Definition
Meaning
The quality of being unconventional, odd, or deviating from normal patterns.
1) A peculiar or unusual habit or characteristic. 2) In mathematics: a measure of how much a conic section deviates from being circular.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries a neutral or slightly positive connotation when describing personality, implying harmless individuality. In technical contexts (mathematics/engineering), it is purely descriptive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British English for describing personal quirks.
Connotations
In both varieties, can imply endearing uniqueness or irritating oddness, depending on context.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both; slightly higher in UK English in literary and descriptive prose.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
eccentricity of [noun]eccentricity in [noun/gerund][adjective] eccentricityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A touch of eccentricity”
- “Eccentricity knows no bounds”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might describe an unconventional business strategy or leader's unusual management style.
Academic
Common in psychology, literature (character analysis), mathematics, and astronomy.
Everyday
Used to describe someone's strange but harmless habits or fashion choices.
Technical
Precise term in geometry (orbital eccentricity) and engineering (rotational eccentricity).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – no direct verb form. Use 'behave eccentrically'.
American English
- N/A – no direct verb form. Use 'act eccentrically'.
adverb
British English
- He dressed quite eccentrically for the wedding.
American English
- She smiled eccentrically, confusing everyone.
adjective
British English
- His eccentric uncle collects vintage lawnmowers.
American English
- Her eccentric style includes mismatched socks.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandma has a funny eccentricity—she names all her plants.
- The artist's eccentricity made him famous in the local community.
- Tolerating a degree of eccentricity is part of working in a creative industry.
- The eccentricity of Mercury's orbit is the greatest among the solar system's planets.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an ECCENTRIC person sitting in the CENTRE of attention because of their odd CITY habits → ECCENTRICITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVIATION IS A MEASURABLE DISTANCE (e.g., 'His eccentricity was off the charts').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'эксцентричность' for personal traits—use 'чудачество', 'странность'. 'Эксцентричность' is more for theatrical/performance context.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'excentricity'. Confusing with 'eccentric' (adj) vs. 'eccentricity' (noun). Using it for severe mental conditions (inappropriate).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'eccentricity' a precise technical term?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. It often describes harmless oddness and can be neutral or positive, suggesting charming individuality.
'Eccentricity' is more formal and often implies a systematic or habitual quirk. 'Weirdness' is more general and informal, sometimes with negative connotations.
Yes, especially in mathematics (conic sections) and astronomy (orbital eccentricity), where it has a precise, quantitative meaning.
Stress the third syllable: ek-sen-TRIS-i-tee. The first 'c' is pronounced as /k/, the second as /s/.
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