irregular

[ih-reg-yuh-ler]

adjective

1. without symmetry, even shape, formal arrangement, etc..

   an irregular pattern.

   Synonyms: uneven, unsymmetrical

2. not characterized by any fixed principle, method, continuity, or rate.

   irregular intervals.

   Synonyms: lawless, eccentric, erratic, capricious, disorderly, unsystematic, unmethodical

3. not conforming to established rules, customs, etiquette, morality, etc..

   highly irregular behavior.

4. not according to rule, or to the accepted principle, method, course, order, etc.

   Synonyms: unusual, anomalous

5. Grammar.,  not conforming to the prevalent pattern or patterns of formation, inflection, construction, etc., of a language; having a rule descriptive of a very small number of items.

   The English verbs “keep” and “see” are irregular in their inflections.

6. Military.,  (formerly, of troops) not belonging to an organized group of the established forces.

7. flawed, damaged, or failing to meet a specific standard of manufacture.

   a sale of irregular shirts.

8. Botany.

   1. not uniform.

   2. (of a flower) having the members of some or all of its floral circles or whorls differing from one another in size or shape, or extent of union.

9. deviating or experiencing deviations from a normally regular or cyclic body function, as bowel habits or menstruation.

10. (of a stock or commodity market) of mixed market activity; showing no clear up or down trend.

noun

1. a person or thing that is irregular.

2. Commerce.,  a product or material that does not meet specifications or standards of the manufacturer, as one having imperfections in its pattern.

3. Military.,  a soldier or combatant not of a regular military force, as a guerrilla or partisan.

irregular

/ ɪˈrɛɡjʊlə /

adjective

1. lacking uniformity or symmetry; uneven in shape, position, arrangement, etc

2. not occurring at expected or equal intervals

   an irregular pulse

3. differing from the normal or accepted practice or routine

4. not according to established standards of behaviour; unconventional

5. (of the formation, inflections, or derivations of a word) not following the usual pattern of formation in a language, as English plurals ending other than in -s or -es

6. of or relating to guerrillas or volunteers not belonging to regular forces

   irregular troops

7. (of flowers) having any of their parts, esp petals, differing in size, shape, etc; asymmetric

8. (of merchandise) not up to the manufacturer's standards or specifications; flawed; imperfect

noun

1. a soldier not in a regular army

2. (often plural) imperfect or flawed merchandise Compare second 1

Other Word Forms

• irregularly adverb
• quasi-irregular adjective
• quasi-irregularly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of irregular¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Late Latin irrēgulāris ( ir- ², regular ); replacing Middle English irreguler, from Middle French

Synonym Study

Irregular, abnormal, exceptional imply a deviation from the regular, the normal, the ordinary, or the usual. Irregular, not according to rule, refers to any deviation, as in form, arrangement, action, and the like; it may imply such deviation as a mere fact, or as regrettable, or even censurable. Abnormal means a deviation from the common rule, often implying that this results in an aberrant or regrettably strange form or nature of a thing: abnormal lack of emotion; A two-headed calf is abnormal. Exceptional means out of the ordinary or unusual; it may refer merely to the rarity of occurrence, or to the superiority of quality: an exceptional case; an exceptional mind. Because of the stigma of abnormal, exceptional is today frequently substituted for it in contexts where such a euphemism may be thought to be appropriate: a school for exceptional children (children who are abnormal in behavior, mental capacity, or the like).

Example Sentences

When patriot forces captured loyalist irregulars – often called “Tories” or “refugees” – they frequently treated them not as prisoners of war but as traitors, executing them swiftly, usually by hanging.

From Salon

He was certainly careful to articulate which sections of his informed reconstructions came from actual mural fragments, painting those irregular shapes in deeper hues, like dispersed puzzle pieces.

From Los Angeles Times

The figures also showed that the number of "irregular" arrivals - meaning people who arrive in the UK via clandestine routes, such as small boats - were also up.

From BBC

This income figure was used to determine how much welfare was paid, but the calculation led to mistakes if a welfare recipient worked irregular hours from week to week.

From BBC

The Conservatives have said the system is in chaos while Reform UK has argued for the mass deportation of those who arrive by illegal or irregular routes.

From BBC

Related Words

• capricious 
• erratic 
• intermittent 
• jerky 
• sporadic 
• uneven 
• unreliable