Meaning & use
aberrant
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Different from what is normal, expected, or acceptable, often in a way that causes concern.
Grammar: Used before nouns and after linking verbs: aberrant behavior; the result was aberrant.
Patterns
- aberrant behavior
- aberrant cells
- aberrant for someone/something
The lab flagged aberrant cells for further testing.
His aberrant response to the warning surprised the whole team.
Common combinations
- aberrant behavior
- The counselor documented a pattern of aberrant behavior after the move.
- aberrant cells
- Aberrant cells were found during the routine screening.
- aberrant result
- One aberrant result caused the team to repeat the experiment.
- aberrant from the norm
- The child's drawing was playful, not aberrant from the norm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- abnormal
- More common and neutral; aberrant often suggests a worrying or rule-breaking deviation.
- deviant
- Can be stronger about violating social rules; aberrant is common in scientific writing.
- atypical
- Simply not typical; it lacks the negative concern often carried by aberrant.
Opposites
Word family
- aberrancy noun
- the state of deviating from normal
- aberration noun
- a departure from the usual; a distortion
- aberrantly adverb
- in a deviating or abnormal way
- aberrated adjective
- especially technical: affected by aberration
Commonly confused: aberrant or abhorrent? aberrant or errant?
aberrant vs abhorrent
Abhorrent means hateful or disgusting; aberrant means deviating from normal.
aberrant vs errant
Errant means wandering or mistaken; aberrant emphasizes departure from a standard.
Practice
Which sentence uses “aberrant” correctly?
Choose one answer.
“Aberrant result” is a natural formal phrase for an abnormal finding. Weather is usually “severe,” job skill needs “excellent,” and aberrant is an adjective, not a verb like “amend.”
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aberrant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.