1
Unconventional person
Behaving or thinking in ways that differ markedly from ordinary social expectations.
Example
The inventor was admired for her eccentric but practical ideas.
eccentric
/ɪkˈsɛntrɪk/ · ik-SEN-trikadjective
Highly unconventional or noticeably unusual.
Use eccentric for a person, habit, or design that departs strikingly from accepted conventions, often without being harmful.
What eccentric Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Unusual habit or style
Following a distinctive pattern that others find surprising or peculiar.
Example
His eccentric habit of cataloguing every conversation fascinated his biographer.
3
Unorthodox design
Departing visibly from familiar forms, arrangements, or methods.
Example
The architect's eccentric designs included triangular rooms and indoor gardens.
Use eccentric Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The inventor was admired for her eccentric but practical ideas.
The composer's eccentric rehearsal methods initially puzzled the orchestra.
Despite its eccentric shape, the chair was exceptionally comfortable.
Precision Matters
Eccentric overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
eccentric
vs.Suggests a conspicuous and highly individual departure from convention.
unconventional
Broadly means not following what is usual or traditional.
eccentric
vs.Often sounds more strikingly odd or surprising.
idiosyncratic
Emphasises a distinctive feature peculiar to one person or thing.
eccentric
vs.Can be consistently unusual rather than inconsistent.
erratic
Changes irregularly or behaves without a predictable pattern.
eccentric
vs.May be endearing, creative, or practical despite being unusual.
bizarre
Suggests something extremely strange or difficult to explain.
Test eccentric in Context
The design departs dramatically from ordinary architectural conventions.
1
The architect rejected rectangular rooms in favour of triangular chambers, spiral corridors, and staircases leading to indoor gardens, producing an unmistakably ___ design.