ab-uh-RAY-shun

Definition

(noun) A departure from what is normal, expected, or typical; an unusual occurrence or deviation.

Example

The sudden snowstorm in late May was a striking aberration — meteorologists hadn’t seen anything like it in the region for over a century.

Word Origin

Aberration comes from the Latin aberrare, meaning “to wander away from,” built from ab- (“away from”) and errare (“to wander” or “to err”). It entered English in the 16th century, initially used in astronomical contexts to describe the apparent displacement of stars caused by Earth’s motion. By the 18th century it had broadened into general use, describing any significant deviation from an established norm.