nonstandard

adjective

non·​stan·​dard ˌnän-ˈstan-dərd How to pronounce nonstandard (audio)
1
: not standard
2
: not conforming in pronunciation, grammatical construction, idiom, or word choice to the usage generally characteristic of educated native speakers of a language compare substandard

Examples of nonstandard in a Sentence

He works nonstandard hours so that he can pick his kids up from school.
Recent Examples on the Web Other leading providers of nonstandard coverage include Infinity and SafeAuto. Kat Tretina, wsj.com, 5 Dec. 2023 But for years, experts warned that Titan’s nonstandard oblong shape and experimental carbon fiber composite were too dangerous to make multiple 12,500-foot dives to the ocean floor. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023 As DeSantis finished flipping pork chops at a booth, Trump’s plane appeared overhead, circling the fairgrounds in what Iowa locals say is a nonstandard flight path into Des Moines International Airport. Nicholas Nehamas, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023 Wagner Robeson points to research that found mothers in low-income families were more likely to work nonstandard schedules than those in middle- and high-income families. Jennifer Brookland, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2022 Interlopers at Tesla’s Magic Dock stations are also being stymied by something more mundane: cords that aren’t long enough to easily reach models with charge ports in nonstandard locations. IEEE Spectrum, 2 Aug. 2023 Crucial to Ukrainian success has been the ability to fight with minimal resources, integrate weapons and technologies in novel ways, and utilize nonstandard help, including from volunteers, NGOs, donations, and private chat groups with Western military advisers. William Reno, Foreign Affairs, 19 July 2023 Fauzia’s is a long-running Jamaican cart known as much for its proprietary jerk blend as for nonstandard items like barbecued tofu, excellent fresh vegetables and halal gyro sandwiches. Nikita Richardson, New York Times, 13 June 2023 Fader’s society is working with insurance companies to relax prior authorization requirements so patients can get nonstandard treatments. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonstandard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonstandard was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near nonstandard

Cite this Entry

“Nonstandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonstandard. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nonstandard

adjective
non·​stan·​dard (ˈ)nän-ˈstan-dərd How to pronounce nonstandard (audio)
1
: not standard
2
: not agreeing in pronunciation, grammatical construction, idiom, or choice of word with the usage generally characteristic of educated native speakers of the language

More from Merriam-Webster on nonstandard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!