Anomaly: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Anomaly noun. Something that departs from what is normal or expected.
How to say it
uh-NOM-uh-lee/əˈnɒməli/
4 syllables, stressed on the second (NOM). Forms: anomalies.
Anomaly in a sentence
The one cold week in July was an anomaly the forecasters couldn’t explain.
Auditors flagged three anomalies in the expense claims, all from the same card.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- irregularity
- oddity
- aberration
- exception
Opposite:
- norm
- rule
Where anomaly comes from
From Greek anōmalia, unevenness, from an-, not, and homalos, even.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Auditors flagged three _____ in the expense claims, all from the same card.
- teleology
- anomaly
- sceptic
Show the answer
anomaly: Auditors flagged three anomalies in the expense claims, all from the same card.