abnormal
abnormal Lexical Profile
abnormal Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Deviating from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically in a way that is undesirable, problematic, or worrying.
"The region experienced an abnormal amount of rainfall this summer, leading to widespread flooding."
In medicine and psychology, differing from standard anatomical structure, physiological function, or behavioral patterns in a manner indicative of disease, disorder, or maladaptation.
"The physician ordered a follow-up biopsy after the patient's screening revealed abnormal cell growth."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'subnormal' specifically indicates falling below a standard or average, 'abnormal' refers to any deviation from the norm—often carrying a clinical or undesirable connotation, unlike 'exceptional', which usually implies positive rarity.
• Rhymes for abnormal
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-19th century from French 'anormal' and reshaped after Latin 'abnormis' ('departing from the rule'), formed from 'ab-' ('away from') and 'norma' ('carpenter's square, rule, pattern'), displacing earlier English 'abnormous'.