Aberrants

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈbɛ.ɹənt/

Definitions

1. Deviating from the typical or expected norms in behavior or characteristics; referring to individuals or occurrences that stand out as unusual in a particular context; describing phenomena that diverge from established patterns or standards in nature or society
2. Characterizing actions or traits that stray from the common course, often suggesting an abnormality; denoting elements that disrupt conventional patterns, highlighting their rarity and oddity; applied to instances or beings that are distinctly different from the predominant or normative examples
3. Signifying variations that break away from the standard, indicating a departure from the ordinary norms; illustrating cases or individuals that exemplify unusual or erratic behavior, often categorized as exceptions; involving manifestations that are markedly distinct from what is generally accepted or expected

Etymology: "Aberrants" is the plural of "aberrant," so this note covers both the form and its base word. The adjective traces back to Latin "aberrāns," the present active participle of "aberrō," meaning "go astray" or "err." That verb combines "ab," meaning "from," with "errō," meaning "to wander," so the original picture is of something wandering off from its proper path. The noun form, which is the one you asked about, is the plural of that adjective, so "aberrants" refers to several things or beings that depart from the usual course. The sense of wandering away has stayed with the word: what is aberrant is simply one that has left the expected track, which is why the term can describe a trait, an action, or an individual that departs from the norm.