Skip to the word

Added 8 October 2026

eccentric

/ɪkˈsɛntɹɪk/ adjective

Latin root: eccentricus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about eccentric at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Not at or in the centre; away from the centre.
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.
Having a different center; not concentric.

noun

One who does not behave like others.
A kook; a person of bizarre habits or beliefs.
A circle not having the same centre as another.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word