atypical

American  

[ey-tip-i-kuhl] / eɪˈtɪp ɪ kəl /

Also atypic

adjective

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

   atypical behavior; a flower atypical of the species.

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atypical British  

/ eɪˈtɪpɪkəl /

adjective

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

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Usage

What does atypical mean? Atypical is used to describe something that does not conform to the norm or that is irregular, such as an atypical behavior or an atypical action. Something that is atypical differs in a noticeable way from other items of its kind. An atypical flower might be a flower that glows in the dark (if you discover one, let us know!). An atypical horror film could be one in which the monster tries to be friends with everyone rather than kill them. Example: These fixtures are atypical of our usual products.

Other Word Forms

• atypicality noun
• atypically adverb

Etymology

Origin of atypical

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

Explanation

Typical means what you would expect—a typical suburban town has lots of neat little houses and people. Atypical means outside of type—an atypical suburban town might be populated by zombies in damp caves. Atypical is a synonym of "unusual," but it carries a more objective feel—scientific studies might mention atypical results, suggesting that there is a clear definition of what is typical and what is not. "Unusual" is more of a casual observation that one might make in a non-scientific context.

Example Sentences

Are investing algorithms flawed because they are likely overweighting historically atypical data?

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Yale law professor Akhil Amar wrote in an amicus brief that the administration’s historical evidence amounts to “an artful pastiche of misleading, misinterpreted, and/or atypical shards.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Naturally, the pool of films shortlisted for the 2021 Oscars looked much different than it otherwise might have, making that year’s nominees both thrillingly diverse and completely atypical.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

Oftentimes, these atypical acquiring editors grew their online book communities for several years before landing at Bindery.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Only affluent Baldwin County to the south, with its beautiful Gulf of Mexico beaches, was atypical, with an African American population of just 9 percent.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

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