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

See Examples For:

nontraditional

It makes sense, given the growth of nontraditional investments, particularly among younger investors.

From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2026

Personal-finance experts warn that nontraditional payment channels don’t always share the same consumer-safety protections as options linked to traditional banks, and can come with unexpected fees attached.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

So-called nontraditional companies, which include venture-backed startups and also small businesses and commercial tech companies, received over $122 billion in the prior fiscal year, double the amount from a decade prior.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Health insurers Oscar and Centene are expected to benefit as AI-driven job disruption expands the nontraditional workforce.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Neither do I speak to turtles or greet friends with a nontraditional handshake.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

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