nontraditional

adjective

non·​tra·​di·​tion·​al ˌnän-trə-ˈdish-nəl 

-ˈdi-shə-nᵊl

: not following or conforming to tradition : not adhering to past practices or conventions : not traditional

a nontraditional family

nontraditional students

nontraditional menu items

Many use nontraditional teaching techniques, and they deliberately draw their students from beyond traditional neighborhood boundaries …

—Thomas Toch

nontraditionally adverb

… to learn how to build and sell cars nontraditionally …

—Michael Schrage

Synonyms

• broad-minded
• liberal
• nonconventional
• nonorthodox
• open-minded
• progressive
• radical
• unconventional
• unorthodox

Examples of nontraditional in a Sentence

a nontraditional couple who are planning a very unconventional wedding

Recent Examples on the Web

Wages haven’t risen alongside rents, so a good number of people — especially those with nontraditional income sources — are struggling with it. —Clio Chang, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2024

The school may benefit from exploring nontraditional methods, such as partnering with specialized nongovernmental organizations, to expand the applicant pool, according to the federal report. —Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024

Although a nontraditional holiday movie, some may make an exception for Step Brothers for its Christmas timeline and relatable themes many families experience during the season. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Part of what makes Kinda Pregnant such a nontraditional romantic comedy is its emphasis on female friendships. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nontraditional

• nontraditional family
• nontraditional student