Erratic
Not regular or predictable; characterized by inconsistency or uncertainty.
adjectiveErratic
Not regular or predictable; characterized by inconsistency or uncertainty.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a metronome that resets to different tempos at random moments, sometimes speeding up, sometimes slowing down, never maintaining a steady beat.
Sounds Like
ih-RAT-ik
Looks Like
Ends with -atic like dramatic; contains 'err' (to wander) visually hinting at inconsistency
Remember This
Erratic behavior implies irregularity over time, not just a one-off quirk. Related roots include errant and irregular.
Other Forms
Connect With
unpredictable, irregular, inconsistent, capricious, volatile
Note
Do not confuse with 'erroneous' (wrong) or 'irregular' (lacking regularity in form). Erratic emphasizes unpredictability in pattern or course.
Study Deeper
- The team's performance has been erratic, with dazzling wins followed by disappointing losses.
- Her driving became erratic after the rain began, weaving between lanes.
From Latin erraticus, meaning wandering, from errare 'to wander' with the suffix -atic.
Erratic = err and tic: picture someone who keeps making errors and has a nervous tic, acting in a highly unpredictable way.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Capricious
adjectiveUnpredictable; given to sudden, unaccountable changes in mood or behavior.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.