anomalous

American  

[uh-nom-uh-luhs] / əˈnɒm ə ləs /

adjective

1. deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule; irregular; abnormal.

   Advanced forms of life may be anomalous in the universe.

2. not fitting into a common or familiar type, classification, or pattern; unusual.

   He held an anomalous position in the art world.

3. incongruous or inconsistent.

4. Grammar. irregular.

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anomalous British  

/ əˈnɒmələs /

adjective

1. deviating from the normal or usual order, type, etc; irregular, abnormal, or incongruous

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Other Word Forms

• anomalously adverb
• anomalousness noun

Etymology

Origin of anomalous

First recorded in 1640–50; from Medieval Latin, Late Latin anōmalus, or directly from Greek anṓmalos “irregular,” equivalent to an- “not, lacking” an- ¹ + homalós “even,” with ō by analogy with other Greek privatives ( cf. anopheles); an- ¹, homo-, -ous

Explanation

Something that deviates from the norm is anomalous. Something anomalous can be good, such as an exciting new direction in music or art. But that anomalously low score on your math test? Not so good. To find the origins of the word anomalous we can go back to the Greek anṓmalos, meaning "uneven or irregular." Something that is anomalous is not just different; it is also unexpected, and may even be completely inconsistent with the norm. For example, the recent discovery of ice, and therefore water, on the moon was anomalous to all previous ideas that the moon was lifeless.

Example Sentences

Kalshi said its surveillance systems had flagged Kaptur's "near-perfect" and "statistically anomalous" trading wins.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Properties in southern and southeastern states will also have bigger losses because “the low temperatures there were more anomalous and properties are generally less prepared for these low temperatures.”

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

But a lesson is also the difficulty of concealing such cheating given the ease of detecting anomalous betting patterns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

“It’s completely unprecedented, completely anomalous — representative, I think, of a major transformation of our normal political life,” said Jack Rakove, a Stanford University emeritus professor of history and political science.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2025

But where there is no desire and no shame no one, however anomalous, is singled out; and I think Asra made no connection of this notion with myself and my peculiarities.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• abnormal
• atypical
• divergent
• incongruous
• peculiar
• unnatural