English vocabulary · B2
Eccentric
/ɪkˈsen.trɪk/ · adj., n.
It means a person who behaves in a very unusual or strange way that is different from most people.
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Example sentences
- The eccentric scientist kept a pet crow in his office.
- She dressed in a very eccentric way, with bright colors every day.
Word origin and roots
from Greek
- ec — out of (from Greek)
- center — center (from Greek)
Synonyms and nuances
- QUIRKY (oddness is charming and personal)
- ODD (something seems out of the ordinary)
- UNCONVENTIONAL (going against accepted norms)
Words with the same root
kentron — center
- concentrate — to bring together toward a central point
- centrifugal — moving away from the center
- concentric — having the same center — circles sharing one point
Lesson notes
Eccentric. It means a person who behaves in a very unusual or strange way that is different from most people.
Similar words are quirky, odd, and unconventional. Use eccentric when a person has a very strong and unusual character that stands out.
The eccentric scientist kept a pet crow in his office. She dressed in a very eccentric way, with bright colors every day.
From Greek. Ec means out of. Center means center. Out of the center: a person who lives far outside the normal. That is eccentric.