What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
aberrant
Example
His aberrant behavior at the party made everyone uncomfortable. [aberrant: adjective]
Example
The scientist discovered an aberrant gene in the DNA sample. [aberrant: adjective]
abnormal
Example
Her test results showed abnormal levels of cholesterol. [abnormal: adjective]
Example
The weather this year has been abnormal for this region. [abnormal: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Abnormal is more commonly used than aberrant in everyday language. Abnormal is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while aberrant is less common and tends to be used in more specific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between aberrant and abnormal?
Both aberrant and abnormal can be used in formal and informal contexts, but aberrant may be more commonly used in technical or scientific writing due to its specific connotations.
