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# The Good Oil Word of the Day
- URL: https://goodoil.news/the-good-oil-word-of-the-day-688/
- Published: 2026-07-06T18:15:36.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-06T18:56:37.000Z
- Author: David Theobald
- Tags: General, Word of the Day

The word for today is…

erratic (adjective, noun)

*adjective*  
1: having no fixed course : wandering  
2a: characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity  
b: deviating from what is ordinary or standard : eccentric  
3: transported from an original resting place especially by a glacier  
4 archaic : nomadic

*noun*  
: one that is erratic, especially : a boulder or block of rock transported from its original resting place especially by a glacier

Source : [Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erratic?ref=goodoil.news)

Etymology : Erratic can refer to literal "wandering". A missile that loses its guidance system may follow an erratic path, and a river with lots of twists and bends is said to have an erratic course. Erratic can also mean "inconsistent" or "irregular". So a stock market that often changes direction is said to be acting erratically; an erratic heartbeat can be cause for concern; and if your car idles erratically it may mean that something's wrong with the spark-plug wiring.

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