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

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

As you might imagine, Moon is fairly nontraditional herself.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Decades of data show that nontraditional activities actually make banks safer because they add fee revenue and make portfolios more diverse.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Bass, who formally launched her reelection campaign over the weekend, has been giving interviews to a growing list of nontraditional outlets.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

As soon as the footlights came on, however, the production’s nontraditional emphasis became clear.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• futuristic
• state-of-the-art