abnormal

(ăb-nôr'məl)
adj.
Not typical, usual, or regular; not normal; deviant.

[Alteration (influenced by AB-¹) of obsolete anormal, from Medieval Latin anormālis, blend of Late Latin abnormis (Latin ab-, away from; see ab-¹ + Latin norma, rule) and anōmalus; see anomalous.]

abnormally ab·nor'mal·ly adv.

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adjective

Departing from the normal: aberrant, anomalistic, anomalous, atypic, atypical, deviant, divergent, irregular, preternatural, unnatural. See good/bad, usual/unusual.

adj

Definition: different from standard or norm
Antonyms: customary, normal, standard, straight, usual

'Abnormal' has richer meanings than 'unusual'. Its meanings depend very much on context. In clinical medicine, and psychology, abnormal states or symptoms are often warnings of possible trouble. They may be readings (of blood pressure, blood sugar, personality variables) outside the normal range. In research science abnormal suggests questions to ask, and may point to new discoveries.

(Published 1987)

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A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

adj.

Not conforming to standard. In matters of thought and conduct, to be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to be detested. Wherefore the lexicographer adviseth a striving toward the straiter [sic] resemblance of the Average Man than he hath to himself. Whoso attaineth thereto shall have peace, the prospect of death and the hope of Hell.

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IN BRIEF: Not conforming to a standard.

It is abnormal to snow in summer.

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adj

Departing from the norm, however defined; departing from the mean of a distribution (statistics); departing from the usual, from a state of integration or adjustment.

For a list of words related to abnormal, see:

• Excessive, Mad, Insane, or Radical
• Vulgar, Rude, Degenerate, or Wild

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See words rhyming with "abnormal."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Abnormal.

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - abnorm, unormal

Nederlands (Dutch)
abnormaal

Français (French)
adj. - anormal

Deutsch (German)
adj. - anormal, ungewöhnlich, (tech.) normwidrig

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - ανώμαλος (μη φυσιολογικός), αφύσικος, αντικανονικός, έκρυθμος

Italiano (Italian)
anormale

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - anormal

Русский (Russian)
ненормальный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - anormal

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - onormal, avvikande

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
反常的, 例外的, 不规则的, 变态的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 反常的, 例外的, 不規則的, 變態的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 병적인, 비정상의, 변태의

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 異常な, 変態の, 病的な
n. - 異常な人

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) شاذ, غير سوي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮לא-תקין, לא-רגיל, לא-נורמלי, אנורמלי‬

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