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Added 3 October 2026

idiosyncrasy

/ˌɪdɪəʊˈsɪŋkɹəsi/ noun

First recorded: 1604 Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about idiosyncrasy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person or a group.
A peculiar individual reaction to a generally innocuous substance or factor; a risk factor.
A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify.
He mastered the idiosyncrasies of English spelling and speech.

Origin

First attested in 1604, in modern sense since 1665, from Ancient Greek ἰδιοσυγκρασία (idiosunkrasía, “one’s own temperament”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one’s own”) + σύν (sún, “together”) + κρᾶσις (krâsis, “temperament”). By surface analysis, idio- + syn- + -crasy.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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