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
Thomas Toch
nontraditionally
adverb
… to learn how to build and sell cars nontraditionally …
—Michael Schrage
Michael Schrage
Examples of nontraditional in a Sentence
a nontraditional couple who are planning a very unconventional wedding
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, communities should prioritize planning that includes traditional responders like the American Red Cross and local emergency management, as well as nontraditional responders like churches, local nonprofits and neighborhood groups.
—Trevor Riggen, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
There are also nontraditional private companies that specialize in higher-risk properties.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
In 2011, the city approved a nontraditional shed known as the Urban Umbrella, which won a design competition.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 14 Mar. 2025
At the opposite end of the nontraditional spectrum is former first lady Michelle Obama, 61, who continues to top the presidential wish list for some on the Left.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nontraditional
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Trevor Riggen, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
There are also nontraditional private companies that specialize in higher-risk properties.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
In 2011, the city approved a nontraditional shed known as the Urban Umbrella, which won a design competition.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 14 Mar. 2025
At the opposite end of the nontraditional spectrum is former first lady Michelle Obama, 61, who continues to top the presidential wish list for some on the Left.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nontraditional
Cite this Entry
“Nontraditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nontraditional. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share