nonstandard

adjective

non·​stan·​dard ˌnän-ˈstan-dərd 

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

All forms of nonstandard helmets are unsafe helmets. —Tanya Mohn, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Additionally, the numeric keypad has a nonstandard three-column layout with narrow keys. —PCMAG, 10 Feb. 2025

The site also uses some nonstandard conventions, one of which cost me at least a half hour in data entry time. —PCMAG, 4 Feb. 2025

And Telegram itself uses standard crypto algorithms developed and certified by US government agencies, just in nonstandard ways. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 27 Jan. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nonstandard

• meandered
• substandard
• slandered
• standard

Kids Definition

nonstandard

adjective

non·​stan·​dard (ˈ)nän-ˈstan-dərd 

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