Meaning & use
anomalous
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Different from what is usual or expected, so that it does not fit a pattern or rule.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an anomalous result, the result was anomalous.
Patterns
- anomalous in something
- an anomalous result
The anomalous reading made the team recheck the sensor.
It was anomalous for the shop to be closed on a Saturday.
The auditor flagged several anomalous payments.
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Not following the usual rules of a system, such as a grammar rule or legal position, and so hard to classify.
Grammar: Often describes a rule, case, or position.
Patterns
- an anomalous position
The verb has an anomalous past tense that fits no pattern.
The law left the island in an anomalous legal position.
Linguists noted the anomalous spelling of the word.
Word forms
| comparative | more anomalous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most anomalous |
Common combinations
- anomalous result
- One anomalous result should not undo the whole study.
- anomalous behavior
- The software logs any anomalous behavior on the network.
- anomalous situation
- It was an anomalous situation: a bakery with no bread.
- anomalous data
- Anomalous data points were removed from the chart.
- seem anomalous
- The figures seem anomalous when compared with last year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- abnormal
- Abnormal often implies something wrong or unhealthy, whereas anomalous only says something does not fit.
- irregular
- Irregular suggests lacking a regular pattern, while anomalous suggests standing out against one.
- atypical
- Atypical is milder and just means not typical of its group, with less puzzlement than anomalous.
- aberrant
- Aberrant is stronger and often suggests a departure from correct or accepted behavior.
Opposites
Word family
- anomaly noun
- something that departs from the normal
- anomalously adverb
- in an unusual or unexpected way
- anomalousness noun
- the quality of being out of the ordinary
Commonly confused: anomalous or anonymous?
anomalous vs anonymous
Anonymous means with no name given, and it sounds similar but has no link to being unusual.
Practice
The scientist set aside the ____ measurement because it was far out of line with every other reading.
Choose one answer.
Anomalous means out of line with expectations. Anonymous sounds similar but means unnamed, and analogous and ambiguous mean similar and unclear.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “anomalous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.