aberration

a departure from what is normal or expected

Roots

Other words with the err / errare root

  • aberrant: departing from the usual course
  • err: to make a mistake or go wrong
  • errant: wandering, straying, or behaving wrongly
  • erratic: irregular or unpredictable
  • error: a mistake or departure from correctness

Ab- gives away and err gives wander. An aberration is the off-course event or result.

The strange result was an aberration, not the usual pattern.

Aberration is the noun cousin of aberrant. One data point, behavior, or event wanders away from the normal path.

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