atypical

[ ey-tip-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. not typical; not conforming to the type; irregular; abnormal:

   atypical behavior; a flower atypical of the species.

atypical

/ eɪˈtɪpɪkəl /

adjective

1. not typical; deviating from or not conforming to type

Derived Forms

• aˈtypically, adverb

Other Words From

• atyp·i·cali·ty noun
• a·typi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of atypical¹

First recorded in 1880–85; a- ⁶ + typical

Example Sentences

On Wednesday night — by no means an atypical one — Russia staged a grueling eight-hour aerial attack on Kyiv, with dozens of drones buzzing overhead and near-constant alerts making sleep nearly impossible.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s these outrageous plot points in the story of the election that are absolutely atypical and unusual, and then there is just the every day madness of the moment and how weird things are in this media environment — where nothing makes sense.”

From Los Angeles Times

Another factor in his atypical career has been the thriving Southern California tennis community, which has nurtured generations of stars from Sampras to the Williams sisters.

From Los Angeles Times

The atypical wind direction can pose a specific risk for boats and maritime infrastructure, as harbors that are usually well protected on the leeward side of the Channel Islands are suddenly exposed to forceful gusts and waves.

From Los Angeles Times

"The number of networks that have emerged here feels atypical and significant to me in comparison to other parts of the state," the Examiner said, adding that "Lancastrians have a penchant for reinventing the wheel — or even inventing the same wheel by different people at the same time."

From Salon

Related Words

• abnormal
• anomalous
• divergent
• odd
• peculiar
• strange
• unnatural