vagary

[ vuh-gair-ee, vey-guh-ree ]

noun

, plural va·gar·ies.

1. an unpredictable or erratic action, occurrence, course, or instance:

   the vagaries of weather; the vagaries of the economic scene.

2. a whimsical, wild, or unusual idea, desire, or action.

   Synonyms: crotchet, quirk, whim, caprice

vagary

/ vəˈɡɛərɪ; ˈveɪɡərɪ /

noun

1. an erratic or outlandish notion or action; whim

Word History and Origins

Origin of vagary¹

1565–75, in sense “wandering journey”; apparently < Latin vagārī to wander

Word History and Origins

Origin of vagary¹

C16: probably from Latin vagārī to roam; compare Latin vagus vague

Example Sentences

In a respectful nod to the delightfully unforeseen vagaries of October baseball, no team is considered even a 1-in-5 shot at being crowned World Series champion.

From Los Angeles Times

Jettisoning an early idea to build the film around comedy bits, Ferrell, Steele and Greenbaum found themselves subject to the vagaries of nonfiction storytelling, and thereby stumbled into the journey’s most bracing scenes.

From Los Angeles Times

Summer 2024 is chock-full of romance novels with intriguing plots that explore the vagaries of the human heart.

From Los Angeles Times

Because of the vagaries of the MLS schedule, LAFC’s most recent game was June 1.

From Los Angeles Times

Summer 2024 is chock-full of novels with intriguing plots that explore the vagaries of the human heart.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• quirk
• whim