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Definition of substandard

substandard

/səbˈstæn.dɚd/
sub · stan · dard
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substandard Lexical Profile

substandard Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Below the usual, required, or acceptable level of quality.

Example

"The safety inspectors ordered the factory to close after finding substandard wiring throughout the building."

2

Designating or relating to linguistic usage that deviates from the prestige dialect or accepted norms of educated speakers.

Example

"Modern linguists prefer the neutral term 'nonstandard' over 'substandard' when describing regional dialects."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for substandard

• Nearby Words

subspecies
substance
substanceless
substandard
substantial
substantially
substantiate

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Substandard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/substandard
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