erratic
pronunciation
How to pronounce erratic in British English:
UK [ɪˈrætɪk]
How to pronounce erratic in American English:
US [ɪˈrætɪk]
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- Adjective:
- having no fixed course
- liable to sudden unpredictable change
- likely to perform unpredictably
Word Origin
- erratic (adj.)
- late 14c., "wandering, moving," from Old French erratique "wandering, vagrant" (13c.) and directly from Latin erraticus "wandering, straying, roving," from erratum "an error, mistake, fault," past participle of errare "to wander, err" (see err). Sense of "irregular, eccentric" is attested by 1841. The noun is from 1620s, of persons; 1849, of boulders. Related: Erratically.
Example
- 1. The direct result of rooney 's erratic temperament is his disciplinary record .
- 2. The most erratic figures , for construction , came in much better than conventional wisdom had expected .
- 3. To some historians mao was a dangerously erratic despot .
- 4. However , there is no serious sign the erratic leader might abdicate .
- 5. Would he be willing some day to retire and turn over the management of this universe to this erratic son of his ?