anomalous

[uh-nom-uh-luh s] /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.
Origin
1640-50; (< Medieval Latin, Late Latin anōmalus) < Greek anṓmalos irregular, equivalent to an- an-1 + homalós even, with ō by analogy with other Gk privatives (cf. anopheles); see homo-, -ous
Related forms
anomalously, adverb
anomalousness, noun
Can be confused
anomalous, anonymous, euonymus, unanimous.
Examples from the web for anomalous
  • He conveys as few other writers have the anomalous position of being the insider who is also an outsider.
  • In the case of the gall, the plant is co-opted — it secretes compounds that promote anomalous tissue growth.
  • Bloggers are faster than the print media at identifying anomalous financial events, and often they're better at analyzing them.
  • But their status within the office and industry hierarchy remained anomalous.
  • She was too odd for disdain, too anomalous for comparisons.
  • It looks like Oz: fantastic, unexpected, anomalous.
  • In these days of personalized polarization, the close friendship between these two men seems anomalous—but instructive.
  • The bank system doesn't flag the transaction as anomalous.
  • The cheeky openness of these ads is hardly anomalous.
  • Perhaps only one who has taken data can understand the temptations to toss results that are "anomalous".
British Dictionary definitions for anomalous

anomalous

/əˈnɒmələs/
adjective
1.
deviating from the normal or usual order, type, etc; irregular, abnormal, or incongruous
Derived Forms
anomalously, adverb
anomalousness, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin anōmalus, from Greek anōmalos uneven, inconsistent, from an- + homalos even, from homos one and the same
Word Origin and History for anomalous
adj.

1640s, from Late Latin anomalus, from Greek anomalos "uneven, irregular" (see anomaly). Related: Anomalously; anomalousness.