erratic — Lacking a fixed course; unpredictable and inconsistent in behavior or movement.
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: Lacking a fixed course; unpredictable and inconsistent in behavior or movement.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈrætɪk/
Example Sentences
- My cat's erratic sleeping pattern includes napping on my keyboard at 3 AM.
- The stock market has been erratic lately, making investors very anxious.
- His erratic work schedule meant he might show up at midnight or not at all.
erratic
ADJECTIVE[/ɪˈrætɪk/]
Lacking a fixed course; unpredictable and inconsistent in behavior or movement.
While the first car drove in a perfectly straight line, the broken car moved in a completely erratic path across the entire road.
ERR(wander/error) + ATIC(state) — entering a broken state(ATIC) where it began to wildly ERR(wander), the lost missile showed an erratic flight path.
When the television suddenly exploded with loud, bright static, the terrified cat began bouncing off the walls in a completely erratic pattern.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'errare' meaning 'to wander' or 'to stray.' The word originally described something that wandered off course, like a lost traveler, which evolved to mean unpredictable or inconsistent behavior.
Breakdown
err- (to wander, stray) + -atic (adjective suffix meaning 'having the quality of')
🎵Rhyme
📝Examples
“My cat's erratic sleeping pattern includes napping on my keyboard at 3 AM.”
“The stock market has been erratic lately, making investors very anxious.”
“His erratic work schedule meant he might show up at midnight or not at all.”
📚Related Words
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