Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Not typical, usual, or regular; not normal; deviant.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not conformed or conforming to rule; deviating from a type or standard; contrary to system or law; irregular; unnatural.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not conformed to rule or system; deviating from the type; anomalous; irregular.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A person or object that is not normal.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective departing from the normal in e.g. intelligence and development
  • adjective much greater than the normal
  • adjective not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration (influenced by ab–) of obsolete anormal, from Medieval Latin anormālis, blend of Late Latin abnormis (Latin ab-, away from; see ab– + Latin norma, rule; see gnō- in Indo-European roots) and anōmalus; see anomalous.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

ab- +‎ normal. First attested in 1835, replacing the earlier anormal and even earlier abnormous, from Latin abnormis ("departing from normal"), from either (ab- ("away from") + norma ("rule, norm")), or Ancient Greek ἀνώμαλος (anōmalos).

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Examples

  • He would soon find out that President Eisenhower did not attach the same significance to the word abnormal and had no intention of leaving Berlin.

    Staying Tuned Daniel Schorr 2001

  • He would soon find out that President Eisenhower did not attach the same significance to the word abnormal and had no intention of leaving Berlin.

    Staying Tuned Daniel Schorr 2001

  • He would soon find out that President Eisenhower did not attach the same significance to the word abnormal and had no intention of leaving Berlin.

    Staying Tuned Daniel Schorr 2001

  • AD: Well, I didn't do much of what they call abnormal psych or behavioral psychology but I was studying cognitive science and a lot of cognitive science is things like understanding decisions, theory and probability, statistics and probability, that sort of thing.

    unknown title 2009

  • AD: Well, I didn't do much of what they call abnormal psych or behavioral psychology but I was studying cognitive science and a lot of cognitive science is things like understanding decisions, theory and probability, statistics and probability, that sort of thing.

    unknown title 2009

  • Peers, opportunity, molestation and cultural influences also play roles in abnormal orientation – beyond parents.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Criminal Charges Against Anti-Homosexuality Street Preacher Dropped in England 2010

  • This is true of every marriage, even if no offspring result, just as of every eye it can be said that it is destined and formed to see, even if, in abnormal cases arising from special internal or external conditions, it will never be possible to achieve visual perception.

    Christopher West: "I never said Hugh Hefner is a hero, never..." 2009

  • Peers, opportunity, molestation and cultural influences also play roles in abnormal orientation – beyond parents.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Criminal Charges Against Anti-Homosexuality Street Preacher Dropped in England 2010

  • Over time, domination by the Chinese Communist regime has led to inhuman behavior and human rights violations resulting in abnormal practices such as cannibalism. link to Next Magazine & Epoch Times via Weird Asian News

    Cannibalism In China Seemingly Acceptable If Invoked For Health Purposes | Impact Lab 2007

  • Many emotional states or kinds of behavior could be classified as abnormal, but labeling a person mentally ill is problematic in itself when it creates feelings of fear and shame.

    OUR BODIES, OURSELVES The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective 2005

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  • US Railway Assn. Standard Cipher Code for the phrase "your modified conditions acceptable".

    January 19, 2013