abnormal
Americanadjective
-
not normal; deviating from the usual or typical; extraordinary
-
informal odd in behaviour or appearance; strange
Synonym Usage
See irregular.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of abnormal
First recorded in 1850–55; ab- + normal; replacing anormal, from Medieval Latin anōrmālus, variant of anōmālus anomalous, influenced by Latin norma norm
Explanation
If you get a snowstorm in the middle of July, you could say that you are experiencing “abnormal weather.” Something that is abnormal is out of the ordinary, or not typical. Abnormal is a combination of the Latin prefix ab which means “away from,” and the English word normal. It essentially means “not normal,” or "unusual.” Abnormal implies that whatever is “not normal” is also undesirable. However, abnormal is sometimes used in a positive context. The phrase “abnormal intelligence,” for instance, usually refers to someone with especially high intelligence.
Vocabulary lists containing abnormal
Lesson 1
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Abnormal levels of groundwater and soil pollution were detected near a 3M site in Zwijndrecht, outside the port city of Antwerp, in 2021.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
Abnormal animal behavior is often a sign of infection, like bats flying in the daytime or normally timid creatures interacting with humans.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2024
Abnormal regulation by microRNAs can contribute to cancer and to some conditions including congenital hearing loss and bone disorders.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024
Abnormal patterns of sleep and waking activity have been studied as potential early indicators of Alzheimer's.
From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2024
Lots of Abnormal laughs, served with sprouts on the side, is what!
From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
