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

To avoid that common pitfall, Heller’s nontraditional audition process for the film’s son involved a lot of just hanging out in the park and playing with kids. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024

However, millennials and Gen Z investors are increasingly turning to fintech to guide their rising interest in cryptocurrency and other nontraditional investments. —Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

The traditional holiday performing arts — even the ones given nontraditional twists — comfort us with their familiarity and their ability to evoke the sights, sounds and stories of the season. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Dec. 2024

Trump, Struve said, was also able to reach young men more effectively by focusing on nontraditional platforms such as podcasts and digital media outlets. —Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nontraditional

• nontraditional family
• nontraditional student