aberration

/ˌæbəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌæbəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌa-bə-ˈrā-shən/ (ame, mw)

aberration — noun

  • aberrationsingular
  • aberrationsplural

1. A short period during which someone acts in a way that is very different from th

1.名詞B2
釋義

A short period during which someone acts in a way that is very different from their usual character or normal habits — often used to reassure others that a single bad action does not reflect who the person really is.

例句

Theo is normally very polite, so his sharp reply was just a temporary aberration.

collocation: temporary aberration

The friendly dog growled at a visitor, but the owner called it a fear-driven aberration.

同義詞
  • lapse

    suggests a temporary failure of judgment or memory rather than a full behavioral change

  • slip

    more informal and brief; a slip is smaller and less significant than an aberration

  • departure

    neutral term for moving away from the norm; less emotional than aberration

反義詞
  • norm

    the standard or expected pattern of behavior

  • consistency

    the quality of always behaving in the same way

文法句型

an + aberration

aberration + from

用法筆記

Frequently used to downplay a negative action by framing it as unusual for that person. Common in apologies and explanations: 'It was an aberration — I am not usually like that.'

常見錯誤

❌His kindness was an aberration because he is always generous.
✅His rudeness was an aberration because he is always kind.
💡The aberration should be the departure from the norm, not the norm itself.
❌She has been late every day this month — it is an aberration.
✅She has been late every day this month
💡it is a habit, not an aberration.' — An aberration is temporary and unusual, not a repeated pattern.

2. A situation, event, or piece of data that is very different from what is expecte

2.名詞C1
釋義

A situation, event, or piece of data that is very different from what is expected, usual, or standard — for example, a surprising test result, an unusual weather pattern, or an unexpected financial loss. The word often suggests the difference is temporary or not meaningful in the long term.

例句

This year's warm winter is a climatic aberration far outside the recorded temperature range.

collocation: climatic aberration

A score of twenty percent was an aberration for Priya, who usually gets top marks.

同義詞
  • anomaly

    more technical and scientific; often used in data analysis

  • deviation

    broader term; can describe any difference, not just a striking one

  • irregularity

    suggests something is not following the rules or expected pattern; slightly negative

反義詞
  • norm

    the expected or standard condition

  • standard

    the usual level or quality against which things are measured

  • typical

    representative of the general pattern

文法句型

an + aberration

dismiss/regard as an aberration

用法筆記

Common in academic and professional contexts such as statistics, science, and finance, where a single unusual data point may be labelled an aberration and excluded from analysis. Less emotional than sense 1; more neutral and analytical.

常見錯誤

❌The warm winter is an abnormality in the climate data.
✅The warm winter is an aberration in the climate data.
💡'Abnormality' suggests something is wrong or defective, while 'aberration' is neutral and simply means different from the usual pattern.
❌The test score was three points below average — what an aberration!
✅A score of twenty percent when the class average is eighty-five is a real aberration.
💡'Aberration' describes a striking, notable difference, not a small, ordinary variation.