Word of the day · 20 June 2026
anomaly
/əˈnɒməli/
noun
Something that departs from what is standard, normal or expected.
In a sentence
- The temperature spike was an anomaly in an otherwise cool month.
- Auditors flagged an anomaly in the travel receipts.
- Her calm under pressure was an anomaly on a panicked team.
In an image
Origin
From Greek anōmalia (unevenness), from anōmalos (uneven, irregular), from an- (not) and homalos (even).
History
Scientists and statisticians use anomaly for outliers that need explanation. Everyday English borrowed it for odd events and exceptions to a rule. An anomaly is not always an error; it can be a clue. The word invites a second look rather than a shrug.
Nearby words
outlier · irregularity · aberration
A data point or case that refuses the usual pattern.