eccentric

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eccentric

/ɪkˈsɛntɹɪk/
/ɛkˈsɛntɹɪk/

Sounds like excentric · Rhymes with -ɛntɹɪk

Where it comes from

From Middle French excentrique, from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Ancient Greek ἔκκεντρος (ékkentros, “not having the earth as the center of an orbit”), from ἐκ (ek, “out”) + κέντρον (kéntron, “point”). Equivalent to ex- + -centric.

adjective more eccentric · most eccentric · excentric · eccentrick · excentrick

Not at or in the centre; away from the centre. Suppose the small pulley on the right to be the driver, the larger wheel with an internal rack and the eccentric wheel within will be driven in opposite directions by the bands represented in the cut, while at the same time motion will be imparted to the intermediate pinion on the left, both round i
Similar: eccentrical, excentrical
Not perfectly circular; elliptical. As of 2008, Margaret had the most eccentric orbit of any moon in the solar system, though Nereid's mean eccentricity is greater.
Similar: eccentrical, excentrical
Having a different center; not concentric.
Similar: eccentrical, excentrical
figuratively Of a person, deviating from the norm; behaving unexpectedly or differently; unconventional and slightly strange. 1801, Author not named, Fyfield (John), entry in Eccentric Biography; Or, Sketches of Remarkable Characters, Ancient and Modern, page 127, He was a man of a most eccentric turn of mind, and great singularity of conduct.
Similar: eccentrical, excentrical, odd, abnormal
Of a motion, against or in the opposite direction of contraction of a muscle (such as results from flexion of the lower arm (bending of the elbow joint) by an external force while contracting the triceps and other elbow extensor muscles to control that movement; opening of the jaw while flexing the masseter).
Opposite: concentric
figuratively Having different goals or motives. a. 1626, Francis Bacon, 1867, Richard Whately (analysis and notes), James R. Boyd (editor), Essay XI: Wisdom for a Man's Self, Lord Bacon's Essays, page 171, […] for whatsoever affairs pass such a man's hands he crooketh them to his own ends, which must needs be often eccentric to those of his maste
Similar: eccentrical, excentrical
Having or being an oospore with a single large oil globule on one side that displaces much of the ooplasm and forces the ooplasts to one side. Oospores may be centric, subcentric, subeccentric or eccentric. Antheridial branches may or may not be present, and are androgynous, monoclinous, diclinous or hypogynous.

noun eccentrics · excentric · eccentrick · excentrick

One who does not behave like others. A tiny, feisty woman who always spoke her mind, Charlotte was an eccentric in the wonderful way that some women from the last century were natural eccentrics.
Similar: character, misfit
slang A kook; a person of bizarre habits or beliefs.
A circle not having the same centre as another.
A disk or wheel with its axis off centre, giving a reciprocating motion. The position of the eccentrics which is necessary to make the pistons drive the engine forward must be directly the reverse of that which would cause them to drive the engine backwards. To be able, therefore, to reverse the motion of the engine, it would only be necessary to be able to reverse the p
An exercise that goes against or in the opposite direction of contraction of a muscle. Research tells us that eccentrics, heavy partials, and static exercise may require several days or weeks of recovery time.

Similar: nonconformist, crank, odd duck, weirdo

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: outre, bizarre, oddball, outlandish, freaky, freakish, unconventional, case, off-center, type, character, acentric, nonconcentric, flaky, geek, eccentric person

adjective

noun

Similar: nonconformist, crank, odd duck, weirdo

Translations

Every language

adj not at or in the centre

中文	偏心的
Português	excêntrico
Français	excentrique
Deutsch	exzentrisch
Italiano	eccentrico
Русский	эксцентри́ческий ekscentríčeskij

adj not perfectly circular

Português	excêntrico
Deutsch	exzentrisch, elliptisch, eiernd

adj having a different center

Português	excêntrico
Deutsch	außermittig

adj deviating from the norm

Español	excéntrico, venático, ideoso
한국어	별나다 byeollada
日本語	偏心 henshin
中文	古怪 gǔguài
Português	excêntrico
Français	excentrique
Deutsch	exzentrisch, schrullig
Italiano	eccentrico
Русский	эксцентри́чный ekscentríčnyj

noun person who does not behave like others

日本語	変人 henjin
中文	怪人 guàirén
हिन्दी	सनक sanak, सनकी sankī
Português	excêntrico
Français	excentrique
Deutsch	Exzentriker, Exzentrikerin, Querulant
Italiano	eccentrico
Ελληνικά	παράξενος paráxenos
Русский	эксце́нтрик ekscéntrik, чуда́к čudák

noun off-centre wheel

Deutsch	Exzenter
Русский	эксце́нтрик ekscéntrik

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Cite this

MLA

"eccentric." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/eccentric. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

eccentric. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/eccentric

Chicago

"eccentric." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/eccentric.

BibTeX

@misc{eccentric_2026,
  title = {eccentric},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/eccentric},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}