eccentricity
noun
ec·cen·tric·i·ty
ˌek-(ˌ)sen-ˈtri-sə-tē 
plural eccentricities
1
a
: the quality or state of being eccentric
b
: deviation from an established pattern or norm
especially
: odd or whimsical behavior
2
a
: a mathematical constant that for a given conic section is the ratio of the distances from any point of the conic section to a focus and the corresponding directrix
b
: the eccentricity of an astronomical orbit used as a measure of its deviation from circularity
Examples of eccentricity in a Sentence
Some people weren't very tolerant of his eccentricity.
Talking to her plants is one of her many eccentricities.
Recent Examples on the Web
All of these things are seemingly accepted, but Jess’s eccentricity — her metallic blue dress and her earnestness — are, as the title would have it, too much.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 July 2025
Where Will Ace Bailey Land? Pre-draft eccentricities aside, Bailey is one of the most athletically gifted players in the draft, as his numbers show.
—Jack Magruder, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The signature imagery, the eccentricity, the wide camera shots, the usual suspects (from Bill Murray to Owen Wilson) – all are hallmarks of Anderson's cinematic work.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2025
The author’s central concern is that these grand ambitions are not benign eccentricities, but ideologies with real-world consequences.
More Everything Forever - AI Overlords, Space Empires, And Silicon Valley's Crusade To Control The Fate Of Humanity
By Adam Becker
What do these people envision?
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for eccentricity
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Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 July 2025
Where Will Ace Bailey Land? Pre-draft eccentricities aside, Bailey is one of the most athletically gifted players in the draft, as his numbers show.
—Jack Magruder, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The signature imagery, the eccentricity, the wide camera shots, the usual suspects (from Bill Murray to Owen Wilson) – all are hallmarks of Anderson's cinematic work.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2025
The author’s central concern is that these grand ambitions are not benign eccentricities, but ideologies with real-world consequences.
More Everything Forever - AI Overlords, Space Empires, And Silicon Valley's Crusade To Control The Fate Of Humanity
By Adam Becker
What do these people envision?
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for eccentricity
Cite this Entry
“Eccentricity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eccentricity. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
eccentricity
noun
ec·cen·tric·i·ty
ˌek-ˌsen-ˈtris-ət-ē
plural eccentricities
1
a
: the quality or state of being eccentric
b
: something that does not follow an established pattern, norm, or rule
especially
: unusual behavior
2
: the amount by which a nearly circular path is not circular
an orbit's eccentricity
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