Definition of "eccentricity" []

• The quality of being eccentric. (noun)
• Deviation from the normal, expected, or established. (noun)
• An example or instance of eccentric behavior. (noun)
• Physics The distance between the center of an eccentric and its axis. (noun)
• Mathematics The ratio of the distance of any point on a conic section from a focus to its distance from the corresponding directrix. This ratio is constant for any particular conic section. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "In this case, their eccentricity is demonstrated by the fact that they genuinely could not care less about the reaction of the Chinese government."
• "His eccentricity is kind of admirable but I'd much rather listen to Daniel Johnston."
• "I suppose the band's English eccentricity is rather studied - the bass player is called The House of Lords "because he's big and all all important decisions have to go through him"."