nonconformist

American  

[non-kuhn-fawr-mist] / ˌnɒn kənˈfɔr mɪst /

noun

1. a person who refuses to conform, as to established customs, attitudes, or ideas.

   Synonyms:

   loner, individualist, dissident, dissenter

2. (often initial capital letter) a Protestant in England who is not a member of the Church of England; dissenter.

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Nonconformist ¹ British  

/ ˌnɒnkənˈfɔːmɪst /

noun

1. a member of a Protestant denomination that dissents from an Established Church, esp the Church of England

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting Nonconformists

nonconformist ² British  

/ ˌnɒnkənˈfɔːmɪst /

noun

1. a person who does not conform to generally accepted patterns of behaviour or thought

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adjective

1. of or characterized by behaviour that does not conform to generally accepted patterns

Other Word Forms

• Nonconformity noun
• nonconformism noun

Etymology

Origin of nonconformist

First recorded in 1610–20; non- + conformist

Example Sentences

In the spirit of its guiding light, the iconoclastic singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, the bar has played host to other country nonconformists.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s difficult to imagine a worse addition to this oil-and-water mix of high-minded nonconformist cranks and hard-toiling middle-class settlers than a capitalist sybarite.

From Los Angeles Times

A strong socialist bent in politics, nonconformist in religion, working class.

From Salon

I’m refreshed by how nonconformist the format of the record is.

From Los Angeles Times

But Tyler, ever the nonconformist, released his eighth studio album at 06:00 EST on Monday, three days after the week's chart tracking began.

From BBC

Related Words

• dissenter
• dissident
• free spirit
• individualist
• maverick