aberrant

1 of 2

adjective

ab·​er·​rant a-ˈber-ənt 

ə-,

-ˈbe-rənt;

ˈa-bə-rənt 

-ˌber-ənt,

-ˌbe-rənt

1

: deviating from the usual or natural type : atypical, abnormal

aberrant behavior

I don't intend to suggest that his psychology was in some way aberrant or neurotic …

—Michael Chabon

2

: straying from the right or normal way

aberrant misfits

aberrance

a-ˈber-ən(t)s 

ə-

-ˈbe-rən(t)s;

ˈa-bə-rən(t)s 

-ˌber-ən(t)s

-ˌbe-rən(t)s

noun

aberrantly adverb

aberrant

2 of 2

noun

1

: a group, individual, or structure that is not normal or typical : an aberrant group, individual, or structure

2

: a person whose behavior departs substantially from the standard

Did you know?

Something aberrant has wandered away from the usual path or form. The word is generally used in a negative way; aberrant behavior, for example, may be a symptom of other problems. But the discovery of an aberrant variety of a species can be exciting news to a biologist, and identifying an aberrant gene has led the way to new treatments for diseases.

Synonyms

Adjective

• aberrated
• abnormal
• anomalous
• atypical
• especial
• exceeding
• exceptional
• extraordinaire
• extraordinary
• freak
• odd
• peculiar
• phenomenal
• preternatural
• rare
• singular
• uncommon
• uncustomary
• unique
• unusual
• unwonted

Examples of aberrant in a Sentence

Adjective

The stones, silvered in the moon's aberrant light, shone like spectral tombs, and the figures, which Dalgliesh knew were Helena, Lettie and the Bostocks, became discarnate shapes disappearing into the darkness. —P. D. James, The Private Patient, 2008

… as if he had happily spied an aberrant crocus amid the wintry gray scene of Presidential impeachment. —Francis X. Clines, New York Times, 8 Jan. 1999

… at the brief and aberrant moment in time when it was possible to believe that America owed its great place in the world to its military and moral virtue rather than to the weight of its currency. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, March 1992

a year of aberrant weather—record rainfall in the summer, record heat in the autumn

aberrant behavior can be a sign of rabies in a wild animal

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This not only paints a wider picture of his life and interests outside his Milan office, but frames his medical specialties as part of this natural world — his focus is the nature of human bodies, desires and impulses — rather than as something aberrant, as in the minds of detractors. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025

Weissman’s characterization of Mobutu’s rule as something aberrant during Africa’s first three decades of independence is not accurate. —Herman J. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2014

Again, the answer lies in the collective mindset of reality TV, whose fans are highly tolerant of aberrant behavior and quick to forgive missteps. —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025

But the more people speak up against such aberrant behavior, the more likely those who are inclined toward violence will be persuaded that engaging their fellow citizens nonviolently is the more patriotic course of action. —Reuben E. Brigety Ii, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin aberrant-, aberrans, present participle of aberrāre "to wander away, stray, go wrong," from ab- ab- + errāre "to wander, drift, be in error" — more at err

Noun

noun derivative of aberrant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1536, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

aberrant

adjective

ab·​er·​rant

ə-ˈber-ənt,

ˈab-ə-rənt

: being different from the usual or natural type

Medical Definition

aberrant

adjective

ab·​er·​rant a-ˈber-ənt  ə-; ˈab-ə-rənt 

-ˌe(ə)r-ənt

1

: straying from the right or normal way

aberrant behavior

2

: deviating from the usual or natural type : atypical sense 1

aberrant salivary tissue