abnormal

1 of 2

adjective

ab·​nor·​mal (ˌ)ab-ˈnȯr-məl How to pronounce abnormal (audio)
əb-
: deviating from the normal or average
a person with abnormal [=exceptional] strength
abnormal powers of concentration
often : unusual in an unwelcome or problematic way
abnormal behavior
abnormal test results
abnormally adverb
behaving abnormally

abnormal

2 of 2

noun

: an abnormal person

Examples of abnormal in a Sentence

Adjective The results of the blood test were abnormal. a completely abnormal school day, because half of the kids were out sick
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Another mammogram right before her 40th birthday in May 2023 came back abnormal, leading to a biopsy. Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2024 Since the start of the year, abnormal heat propelled the cherry trees to an early bloom. Harry Stevens, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 My mom, who was 63 at the time, complained to me about what felt like menstrual cramping and abnormal spotting. Deanna Taylor, Essence, 20 Mar. 2024 Over time, there can be a progression to more severe effects, including abnormal heart rhythm, tonic-clonic seizures, delirium, anxiety, and personality changes. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 But based on how celebrities are treated in Japan, nothing about this was abnormal. Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 And in some studies, the default mode network itself isn’t abnormal, but its interactions with other networks are. Nora Bradford, WIRED, 3 Mar. 2024 However, by the standards of Japanese culture — especially Japanese celebrity culture — nothing about this was abnormal. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The blood vessel tissue on the slide looked abnormal. Emily Baumgaertner Ariana Drehsler, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
Being there on Tuesday felt like the new abnormal. Terry Blain Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 5 Aug. 2020 Welcome to the new abnormal. Seth Borenstein, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Dec. 2022 There's only a new abnormal. Faye Flam, Star Tribune, 2 Feb. 2021 Primed for speed and for the social distancing of the new abnormal, Toro Coffee does its thing exclusively at the drive-thru, with a window on each side of this white box building near Rackspace on the Northeast Side. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Jan. 2021 Several in the Santiam district spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive about what’s become a catchphrase of the double bind -- the new abnormal. oregonlive, 20 Oct. 2020 The abnormal of 2020 continued through this game as lightning delayed the game by more than half an hour late in the third quarter, and with 3:52 remaining in the game, half of the stadium's lighting went out. al, 22 Aug. 2020 Welcome to the Charles Schwab Challenge and the PGA Tour’s new abnormal. Dallas News, 12 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abnormal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin abnormis "deviating from the average" (going back to Medieval Latin, "not conforming to rule," going back to Latin, "belonging to no school of philosophy," from ab- ab- + norma "carpenter's rule, pattern") + -al entry 1 — more at norm

Noun

noun derivative of abnormal entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1817, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abnormal was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near abnormal

Cite this Entry

“Abnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abnormal. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

abnormal

adjective
ab·​nor·​mal
(ˈ)ab-ˈnȯr-məl
: differing from the normal or average : unusual
abnormally
-mə-lē
adverb

Medical Definition

abnormal

1 of 2 adjective
ab·​nor·​mal (ˈ)ab-ˈnȯr-məl How to pronounce abnormal (audio)
: deviating from the normal, average, or expected
abnormal development
results of the Pap smear were abnormal
abnormal actions departing from accepted standards of social behavior
abnormally adverb

abnormal

2 of 2 noun
: an abnormal person

More from Merriam-Webster on abnormal

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