anomalous
deviating from what is normal
Roots
- -ous / -ious: full of or marked by a quality
- anom / anomaly: irregular, uneven, or outside the expected pattern
Other words with the anom / anomaly root
- anomaly: something that does not fit the expected pattern
Anomalous means anomaly-like: the odd dot that refuses to sit with the pattern.
One anomalous score did not erase the trend, but it made the researchers look again.
Anomalous is easier if anomaly comes first. Picture one result standing outside the expected shape: not normal, not predicted, and worth a second look.