irregular
without symmetry, even shape, formal arrangement, etc.: an irregular pattern.
not characterized by any fixed principle, method, continuity, or rate: irregular intervals.
not conforming to established rules, customs, etiquette, morality, etc.: highly irregular behavior.
not according to rule, or to the accepted principle, method, course, order, etc.
Grammar. not conforming to the prevalent pattern or patterns of formation, inflection, construction, etc., of a language; having a rule descriptive of a very small number of items: The English verbs “keep” and “see” are irregular in their inflections.
Military. (formerly, of troops) not belonging to an organized group of the established forces.
flawed, damaged, or failing to meet a specific standard of manufacture: a sale of irregular shirts.
Botany.
not uniform.
(of a flower) having the members of some or all of its floral circles or whorls differing from one another in size or shape, or extent of union.
deviating or experiencing deviations from a normally regular or cyclic body function, as bowel habits or menstruation.
(of a stock or commodity market) of mixed market activity; showing no clear up or down trend.
a person or thing that is irregular.
Commerce. a product or material that does not meet specifications or standards of the manufacturer, as one having imperfections in its pattern.
Military. a soldier or combatant not of a regular military force, as a guerrilla or partisan.
Origin of irregular
1synonym study For irregular
Other words for irregular
Other words from irregular
- ir·reg·u·lar·ly, adverb
- qua·si-ir·reg·u·lar, adjective
- qua·si-ir·reg·u·lar·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use irregular in a sentence
Many reported trying to save money by irregularly taking the pill or changing to a less effective method of contraception.
They are usually shorter and more irregular in outline, and more frequently have irregularly broken ends.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddGenerally, the ends are rounded and the striations faint, or only irregularly round or oval yellow masses are found.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddEntering a very large irregularly-formed room, they proceeded to the upper end, where a huge coal fire blazed.
The Garret and the Garden | R.M. BallantyneThey are straight or curved rods, which vary markedly in size and outline, and stain very irregularly (Fig. 123).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
He ate irregularly, of such things as he could put his hands upon; and sleep fled from him like a mistress spurned.
Love's Pilgrimage | Upton Sinclair
British Dictionary definitions for irregular
/ (ɪˈrɛɡjʊlə) /
lacking uniformity or symmetry; uneven in shape, position, arrangement, etc
not occurring at expected or equal intervals: an irregular pulse
differing from the normal or accepted practice or routine
not according to established standards of behaviour; unconventional
(of the formation, inflections, or derivations of a word) not following the usual pattern of formation in a language, as English plurals ending other than in -s or -es
of or relating to guerrillas or volunteers not belonging to regular forces: irregular troops
(of flowers) having any of their parts, esp petals, differing in size, shape, etc; asymmetric
US (of merchandise) not up to the manufacturer's standards or specifications; flawed; imperfect
a soldier not in a regular army
(often plural) US imperfect or flawed merchandise: Compare second 1 (def. 15)
Derived forms of irregular
- irregularly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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