aberrant

/æ'berənt/

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Word: Aberrant

Part of Speech: Adjective

Basic Meaning: The word "aberrant" describes something that is very different from what is usually expected or accepted. It often refers to behavior or ideas that do not fit in with the normal standards of a group.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "aberrant" when you want to describe actions, thoughts, or behaviors that are unusual or deviate from what is considered normal or acceptable.
• It is often used in formal contexts, such as psychology, sociology, or discussions about norms in society.

Examples:

1. Adjective: "The scientist studied the aberrant behavior of the animals in the experiment, which did not follow their usual patterns."
2. Noun: "He was considered an aberrant because his ideas about society were so different from those of his peers."

Advanced Usage:

• In academic writing, "aberrant" can be used to describe phenomena that challenge established theories or norms, such as "aberrant genetic mutations" which differ from typical genetic patterns.

Word Variants:

• Aberration (noun): This refers to a departure from what is normal or expected. For example, "The sudden change in temperature was an aberration for that time of year."
• Aberrantly (adverb): This describes doing something in an aberrant manner. For example, "The child behaved aberrantly during the field trip."

Different Meanings:

• While "aberrant" primarily refers to behavior or ideas that deviate from the norm, it can also be used in scientific contexts to describe anomalies in data or observations.

Synonyms:

• Deviant
• Anomalous
• Unusual
• Irregular
• Abnormal

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "aberrant," but you might encounter phrases like "out of the ordinary," which conveys a similar meaning.

Summary:

"Aberrant" is a useful word for talking about things that are not typical or that stand out from what is generally accepted.

Academic

Adjective

1. markedly different from an accepted norm
   • aberrant behavior
   • deviant ideas

Noun

1. one whose behavior departs substantially from the norm of a group

Synonyms

• deviant
• deviate