Anomaly

medium

uh-NOM-uh-lee

noun

Definition

Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected

Examples

The test results showed an anomaly that required further investigation.
Her success in a male-dominated field was considered an anomaly.

Synonyms

irregularityaberrationdeviationoddity

Antonyms

normalityregularityconformitystandard

Categories

GRE Tip

Anomaly is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "irregularity" or "aberration" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "normality".

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