idiosyncrasy
0 antonyms and opposites of idiosyncrasy, grouped by meaning.
Noun — An unusual habit or feature belonging to one particular person, which marks them out from everyone else.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
An unusual habit or feature belonging to one particular person, which marks them out from everyone else.
“Writing every email in lower case is one of his idiosyncrasies.”
How to Use Idiosyncrasy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal but common; the adjective idiosyncratic is used more often than the noun.
Etymology
From Greek idios meaning 'own' or 'private' and synkrasis meaning 'mixture' or 'temperament'.
Full origin of idiosyncrasy →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an idiosyncrasy and a quirk?
They overlap almost completely, but quirk is shorter, warmer and more everyday, while idiosyncrasy is formal and suggests a settled trait rather than a one-off oddity.
How do you spell and pronounce idiosyncrasy?
It ends in -crasy, not -cracy, because it comes from krasis meaning mixture rather than kratos meaning power. Say id-ee-oh-SING-kruh-see, with the stress on the third syllable.
Is calling someone idiosyncratic a compliment?
It is usually mild and affectionate, suggesting individuality rather than fault. It can be a polite way of noting that someone is difficult, so tone and context matter.