nonconformist

[non-kuhn-fawr-mist]

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.

Nonconformist

¹

/ ˌnɒnkənˈfɔːmɪst /

noun

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

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting Nonconformists

nonconformist

²

/ ˌnɒnkənˈfɔːmɪst /

noun

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

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• Nonconformity noun
• nonconformism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonconformist¹

First recorded in 1610–20; non- + conformist

Example Sentences

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.

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

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

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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.

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If you want to turn heads and keep warm this fall, look to the ultimate nonconformist, Rick Owens, for a chic solution with this dust gray knit bodysuit.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dissenter 
• dissident 
• free spirit 
• individualist 
• maverick