anomalous
Americanadjective
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deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule; irregular; abnormal.
Advanced forms of life may be anomalous in the universe.
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not fitting into a common or familiar type, classification, or pattern; unusual.
He held an anomalous position in the art world.
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incongruous or inconsistent.
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Grammar. irregular.
adjective
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 ( anopheles ); an- 1, homo-, -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Ms Sánchez said the blackout was caused by a combination of issues, including an "unknown event" in the system moments before, which saw anomalous voltage oscillations.
From BBC • Dec. 14, 2025
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
