bizarre

Word family

• bizarrely
  adverbB2
• bizarreness
  nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that deviates from the normal, but they differ in intensity and register. Strange (B1) is the most general and neutral — a strange noise could be mildly unfamiliar without being shocking. Odd (B1) often implies something slightly off or not quite right, like an odd smell in a room. Weird (B1) is the informal counterpart to bizarre — both describe things that are strikingly unusual, but weird belongs to everyday speech while bizarre can appear in more formal contexts. Eccentric (B2) is the most specific: it almost always describes a person or their behaviour, suggesting unconventional habits that are noticeable but not necessarily disturbing. Bizarre stands apart by implying a dramatic, conspicuous strangeness that makes people stop and stare. A man wearing odd socks is merely untidy; a man wearing a full suit of armour to a café is bizarre.

Common collocations

Etymology

From French bizarre, earlier from Italian bizzarro ('irascible, strange'), which may trace back to Basque bizar ('beard') — though the connection is uncertain. The word entered English in the mid-17th century and has always carried the sense of something strikingly unusual.