irregularity

American  

[ih-reg-yuh-lar-i-tee] / ɪˌrɛg yəˈlær ɪ ti /

noun

plural

irregularities

1. the quality or state of being irregular.

2. something irregular.

3. a breach of rules, customs, etiquette, morality, etc.

4. occasional mild constipation.

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irregularity British  

/ ɪˌrɛɡjʊˈlærɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being irregular

2. something irregular, such as a bump in a smooth surface

3. a breach of a convention or normal procedure

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Etymology

Origin of irregularity

1275–1325; Middle English irregularite < Old French < Medieval Latin irrēgulāritās. See ir- ², regularity ( def. )

Example Sentences

Here, the very irregularity of the interior environment, including the concrete surfaces — richer and more textured than I expected — heightened my alertness.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Nature herself is more than shapeless irregularity; the woods have glades and groves, animal trails and vistas; like literature, they have rising and falling action.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The irregularity of student finance payments made it difficult to budget, which Denby said often caused her to rely on an overdraft alongside income from a part-time job.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Transactions initially appeared to be completed correctly, but the irregularity was only discovered days later, when the payment platform transferred the actual amount paid to the affected company.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

He turned and absented himself from the chamber, his body betraying signs of considerable inward turmoil of spirits in his irregularity of movement.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• breach
• crime
• infringement
• violation