nonstandard

[ non-stan-derd ]

adjective

1. not standard.
2. not conforming in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, etc., to the usage characteristic of and considered acceptable by most educated native speakers; lacking in social prestige or regionally or socially limited in use: Compare standard ( def 27 ).

   a nonstandard dialect; nonstandard English.

3. Mathematics. of or relating to a generalized system of numbers that includes the real numbers but also includes infinite and infinitesimal numbers:

   nonstandard analysis.

nonstandard

/ nɒnˈstændəd /

adjective

1. denoting or characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc, that is not regarded as correct and acceptable by educated native speakers of a language; not standard
2. deviating from a given standard

Usage Note

A term labeled Nonstandard in this dictionary is one that is thought to be characteristic of the speech of persons with little education—a term that is often regarded as a marker of low social status.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonstandard¹

First recorded in 1920–25; non- + standard

Example Sentences

Studies have consistently shown that nonstandard work schedules -- working outside the traditional nine-to-five workday -- can negatively impact physical and mental health as well as social and family life.

From Science Daily

"We actually had to do something nonstandard to achieve this," Bonagiri said.

From Science Daily

Spirit told Boeing that a nonstandard manufacturing process had been used by a subcontractor to fabricate two of the eight heavy metal fittings that attach the MAX’s vertical tailfin to the fuselage.

From Seattle Times

However, they don’t fit nonstandard spaces very well, and they’re harder to retrofit into existing spaces, so they work best in new construction.

From Seattle Times

In that case, “a nonstandard manufacturing process” affected two out of eight fittings that attached the tailfin to the fuselage.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• abnormal