deviant

[ dee-vee-uhnt ]

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

/ 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 Words From

• non·devi·ant adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deviant¹

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”; deviate

Example Sentences

They also expressly rejected new studies from the psychological world that argued against classifying homosexuality as a deviant behavior that could be overcome through therapy.

From Washington Post

It’s easy to see how plenty of people could find those paths appealing rather than deviant.

From Vox

Desiring fat people is something deviant to be hidden, to find shame in, to closet.

From Vox

Brennan accused the three of causing riots, called them “deviants” and rode off down the trail, according to Lopez’s affidavit.

From Washington Post

Rick Zbur, Equality California’s executive director, said it’s been common throughout the struggle for LGBTQ rights for opponents to advance a narrative that LGBTQ individuals are deviants or predators.

From Voice of San Diego

Apparently fans want Star Wars to become more sexually deviant.

From The Daily Beast

The report made reference to “the deviant group,” the preferred euphemism that state-run media there uses for al Qaeda.

From The Daily Beast

The "deviant trend" is a title used by those who oppose Ahmadinejad to describe certain people close to him, including Mashaei.

From The Daily Beast

One of the individuals said to belong to the “deviant trend” is Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei.

From The Daily Beast

A book that will remain relevant as long as governments use ludicrous forms of subterfuge to disguise deviant behavior.

From The Daily Beast

Under the circumstances, deviant behavior could not be tolerated.

From Project Gutenberg

Another deviant, already tried and found guilty, was ready to be exiled from Earth and imprisoned on one of the Penal Asteroids.

From Project Gutenberg

It smelled the outpouring of certain glands, tasted a deviant brain wave.

From Project Gutenberg

When a person is judged by social standards to be deviant and even evil, however, it is difficult to summon caring.

From Project Gutenberg

People whose greatest crime might have been lack of enthusiasm feared that they might be suspected of deviant political beliefs.

From Project Gutenberg