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Synonyms

abnormality

American  
[ab-nawr-mal-i-tee] / ˌæb nɔrˈmæl ɪ ti /

noun

  • abnormalities
    plural
  1. an abnormal condition, state, or quality; irregularity; deviation.

    Synonyms:
    idiosyncrasy, oddity, peculiarity, aberration, anomaly
  2. an abnormal thing or event.


abnormality British  
/ ˌæbnɔːˈmælɪtɪ /

noun

  1. an abnormal feature, event, etc

  2. a physical malformation; deformity

  3. deviation from the typical or usual; irregularity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of abnormality

First recorded in 1850–55; abnormal + -ity


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.

See Examples For:

The surrogate, named M.W. in court filings but who has identified herself publicly as McKenna West, said she had been pressured by the couple to have an abortion after a fetal scan diagnosed the abnormality.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Taken together, the researchers say these findings suggest that this metabolic abnormality may actively contribute to Alzheimer's disease rather than simply occur as a consequence of it.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026

“There is an abnormality with this trial and how the competitor product has done, it’s neither in their label or their own trials.”

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026

Schlossberg's subtype of leukaemia - a chromosomal abnormality formerly called Inversion 3 - is even rarer, affecting only 1% to 2% of people with acute myeloid leukaemia.

From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2025

I had zero intention of getting into “normal” with that abnormality.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

To study the consequences of these abnormalities, Cimini's team manipulated diploid cancer cells so they would duplicate their chromosomes without completing cell division.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

Then in August, the shares plunged after the agency placed the therapy on clinical hold when spinal scans turned up abnormalities in some trial participants.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

It explains that the father, Gary, donated "part of his liver and bowel" in a transplant for his son Harry who "was born with bowel abnormalities".

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Experts later determined she suffered from severe anemia; blood clots in both wings and one kidney; liver and lung abnormalities; and inadequate bone marrow response.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

In 2006, some seven hundred new mothers found out that doctors had taken their placentas without consent to test for abnormalities that might help the hospital defend itself against future lawsuits over birth defects.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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