Which term means deviation from what is normal?

• A. Languish
• B. Engender
• C. Anomaly
• D. Censure

Answer: (C)

Deviation from what is normal is captured by the noun anomaly. An anomaly refers to something that doesn’t fit the usual pattern or standard, something that stands out as unusual or irregular. In science and everyday use, you might call a data point that doesn’t follow the trend an anomaly, or describe an event as an anomaly when it breaks expected patterns. The other words point to different ideas: languish means to become weak or fail to progress, engender means to cause or bring about, and censure means to express strong disapproval. So anomaly is the best fit because it directly names something that deviates from the norm.