deviant

American  

[dee-vee-uhnt] / ˈdi vi ənt /

adjective

1. deviating or departing from the norm; characterized by deviation.

   deviant social behavior.

---

noun

1. a person or thing that deviates or departs markedly from the accepted norm.

deviant British  

/ ˈdiːvɪənt /

adjective

1. deviating, as from what is considered acceptable behaviour

---

noun

1. a person whose behaviour, esp sexual behaviour, deviates from what is considered to be acceptable

Other Word Forms

• nondeviant
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of deviant

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin dēviant-, stem of dēviāns “straying,” present participle of dēviāre “to stray, turn from the road”; see deviate

Explanation

A deviant is someone whose behavior falls far outside of society's norms; as an adjective, deviant can describe the behavior itself. For example, a fifty-year-old punk rocker has a deviant appearance, compared to his peers. That aging punk deviates, or departs from the norm, of people his age. Both deviant and deviate come from the Latin word deviare, meaning "to turn out of the way." Deviants experience this turning away from society, either by choice, or in the case of someone who has harmed another, perhaps by sexual abuse, by being cast out by people who want nothing to do with them.

Example Sentences

Women and men who have permanent tattoos are more likely to be arrested, convicted and incarcerated, according to a study published in the journal Deviant Behavior.

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2023

Her co-performer, 31-year-old Sophie Scheeres, also known as Miss Shade B, was one of the drivers behind the creation of House of Deviant.

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2023

In July 2017, a month after Qatar’s neighbors cut diplomatic ties and began a years-long boycott of the country, Chalker authored a proposal for "Project Deviant."

From Fox News • Nov. 23, 2021

Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman, when Deviant trouble roars into that dirty old town.

From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2021

Hit the Road altered course with enough room inside the quarter marker and caused Deviant to clip the heels of Hit the Road and Deviant stumbled badly.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2019