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

Whether these nontraditional finance apps ultimately help consumers depends largely on how people engage with them.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

Cole said many African art collectors favor figures and masks rather than the utilitarian and nontraditional objects Wolfe pursued.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

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

From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2026

But IRA custodians specializing in nontraditional assets often give clients who are making their own investment choices wide latitude—leaving the burden of compliance with the individual, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

“When it’s time to bail, there are nontraditional routes that most people don’t know. They won’t be gridlocked like the freeways.”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

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