Meaning & use
aberrations
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“aberrations” is a form of “aberration”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountable
Things that are different from what is normal, usual, or expected, especially in a way that is not welcome.
Grammar: Countable noun; the singular is 'aberration'. Use it for events, behaviors, or results that stand out as unusual.
Patterns
- aberrations in something
- a temporary aberration
- statistical aberrations
The strange weather this summer was just one of several aberrations in an otherwise normal year.
The scientist explained that these results were aberrations caused by a faulty machine, not real changes.
Most of the data fit the pattern, but there were a few aberrations that we could not explain.
nouncountabletechnical
A change from what is normal or correct, especially in a person's behavior or in a biological structure.
Grammar: Also countable; often used in technical or medical contexts to describe a deviation from the standard.
Patterns
- a genetic aberration
- a chromosomal aberration
- a mental aberration
The doctor said the test showed a small chromosomal aberration that was not dangerous.
His sudden anger was completely out of character—a temporary aberration, his friends hoped.
Word forms
| singular | aberration |
|---|
Common combinations
- a temporary aberration
- The drop in sales was a temporary aberration, and business soon returned to normal.
- a statistical aberration
- The high score was a statistical aberration and did not reflect his true ability.
- a genetic aberration
- The researchers studied a rare genetic aberration in the laboratory mice.
- an aberration in something
- There was an aberration in the data that we had to correct before publishing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- anomaly
- Anomaly is more formal and often used for things that do not fit a pattern, especially in science; aberration can also suggest something wrong or undesirable.
- deviation
- Deviation emphasizes a measurable difference from a standard, while aberration often suggests something strange or unexpected.
- oddity
- Oddity is less formal and often refers to something merely strange, not necessarily a serious deviation.
Opposites
Word family
- aberrant adjective
- Different from what is normal or acceptable, especially in biology or behavior.
Commonly confused: aberrations or aberration?
aberrations vs aberration
This is the singular form; 'aberrations' is the plural. Do not confuse with 'abortion', which means the ending of a pregnancy.
Practice
The unusually cold week in May was a(n) ______ in an otherwise warm spring.
Choose one answer.
An 'aberration' is something that deviates from the normal pattern, which fits the context of unusual cold weather. 'Abbreviation' means a shortened form of a word, 'abrasion' is a scrape, and 'abdication' is giving up a throne or responsibility.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aberrations”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.