nontraditional

British  

/ ˌnɒntrəˈdɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. not traditional; unconventional

   nontraditional lifestyles

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Explanation

Anything that's different from the usual customs or traditions is nontraditional. Riding a unicycle to school is a nontraditional form of transportation. Tradition is the passing on of beliefs and rules through the generations. People or things that don't follow these traditions, instead inventing new ways of doing things, are nontraditional. Nontraditional schools are different from most — maybe they don't have grades, or have classes open to students of any age. For a long time, jobs like being a doctor or a soldier or a truck driver were considered nontraditional for women, although this has changed somewhat through the years.

Example Sentences

Scientists believe the Bay may act as an emergency feeding stop for whales in poor condition, as unusually thin individuals have been observed foraging in other nontraditional habitats as well.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

The show’s nontraditional approach—a mix of clever analysis and laudatory commentary—has allowed it to nab high-profile interviews with executives, some of whom rarely speak to legacy media outlets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Kaye attributed Bindery’s success to its nontraditional model, which by leveraging so-called “bookfluencer” reach integrates reader sentiment into the publication process rather than attempting to anticipate it — as many publishing houses still do.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Decades of data show that nontraditional activities actually make banks safer because they add fee revenue and make portfolios more diverse.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

“Studies show that in single-sex schools, girls take more nontraditional courses like advanced science. They worry less about how they look, they’re more competitive, and they have higher self-esteem.”

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

Related Words

• futuristic
• state-of-the-art