- a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual.
- the physical constitution peculiar to an individual.
- a peculiarity of the physical or the mental constitution, especially susceptibility toward drugs, food, etc.Compare allergy(def 1).
Origin of idiosyncrasy
SynonymsSee more synonyms for idiosyncrasy on Thesaurus.com
Examples from the Web for idiosyncrasy
The Night (it must have been her idiosyncrasy) put her tongue out at them, too.The Arrow of Gold
He did not even try to investigate this idiosyncrasy of his chief.Victory
This idiosyncrasy his companion, de Spain, had learned to tolerate.Nan of Music Mountain
Frank H. Spearman
It was an idiosyncrasy of Jackson's to gather and take with him every filing.The Long Roll
Long and often did Lorna puzzle over this idiosyncrasy of her father.The Jolliest School of All
- a tendency, type of behaviour, mannerism, etc, of a specific person; quirk
- the composite physical or psychological make-up of a specific person
- an abnormal reaction of an individual to specific foods, drugs, or other agents
Word Origin and History for idiosyncrasy
c.1600, from French idiosyncrasie, from Greek idiosynkrasia "a peculiar temperament," from idios "one's own" (see idiom) + synkrasis "temperament, mixture of personal characteristics," from syn "together" (see syn-) + krasis "mixture" (see rare (adj.2)). Originally in English a medical term meaning "physical constitution of an individual." Mental sense first attested 1660s.
- A structural or behavioral trait peculiar to an individual or a group.
- A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
- An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.