abnormal
Americanadjective
-
not normal; deviating from the usual or typical; extraordinary
-
informal odd in behaviour or appearance; strange
Related Words
See irregular.
Other Word Forms
- abnormally adverb
- abnormalness noun
- superabnormal adjective
- superabnormally adverb
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
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.
High potassium levels can lead to abnormal heart rhythms.
From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026
The cancerous plasma cells produce large amounts of an abnormal antibody called M protein, which builds up in bone marrow and forms tumors in bones, like the one in my hip.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
"This is abnormal, for sure," says Mukesh Sahdev, chief oil analysts at XAnalysts.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
Tedros said the International Atomic Energy Agency was looking into the strikes, and "no indications of abnormal or increased off-site radiation levels have been reported".
From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026
Flames of abnormal size were pursuing them, licking up the sides of the junk bulwarks, which were crumbling to soot at their touch.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
