Aberration

Aberration (noun)

If something is an aberration, it is not typical; it is a deviation from the standard.

• James has always been a nice guy. His bad behavior at his wife’s birthday party was an aberration.
• In Mumbai the weather is hot in May, so the heavy rain that lashed the city last week was an aberration. Rain doesn’t usually fall in May.
• My wife is a terrible cook. The good meal that you had when you visited our place last week was an aberration.

Related words

Aberrational (adjective), aberrant (adjective)

Note that an aberration is an aberrant occurrence.

• James bad behavior was aberrant.
• The heavy rain that fell in May was aberrant.

Synonyms

Deviation, divergence, abnormality, illusion, delusion, eccentricity