nontraditional

British  

/ ˌnɒntrəˈdɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. not traditional; unconventional

   nontraditional lifestyles

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Explanation

Anything that's different from the usual customs or traditions is nontraditional. Riding a unicycle to school is a nontraditional form of transportation. Tradition is the passing on of beliefs and rules through the generations. People or things that don't follow these traditions, instead inventing new ways of doing things, are nontraditional. Nontraditional schools are different from most — maybe they don't have grades, or have classes open to students of any age. For a long time, jobs like being a doctor or a soldier or a truck driver were considered nontraditional for women, although this has changed somewhat through the years.

Example Sentences

“Anduril has excelled at producing hardware with these capabilities and Palantir has the software expertise. Both companies also have a reputation for rapid iteration as nontraditional defense contractors,” Luria said.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

But with the arrival of their new baby, the two found that James’ nontraditional hours can save them money.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

At that time, accumulating works by women and artists of color working with nontraditional materials that defied formal categories, wasn’t only uncommon — it wasn’t done.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Scientists believe the Bay may act as an emergency feeding stop for whales in poor condition, as unusually thin individuals have been observed foraging in other nontraditional habitats as well.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

In Edgar Snow’s brilliant Red Star Over China I saw that it was Mao’s determination and nontraditional thinking that led him to victory.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• futuristic
• state-of-the-art