nontraditional
Britishadjective
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"This is a nontraditional, or non-canonical, role for MYC," Sears said.
From Science Daily • May 17, 2026
He reckons KKR should continue to generate solid inflows, with its mix of alternative products benefiting from ongoing demand for nontraditional investment products.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Robinhood traders flocked to an array of investment options, both traditional and nontraditional, as they sought to cope with the volatility brought upon by the Iran war.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 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
Neither do I speak to turtles or greet friends with a nontraditional handshake.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
