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

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

But any type of growth or nontraditional channel is a positive for the industry overall and for the consumer, though can be a challenge for those already in the industry. —James Manso, WWD, 13 Dec. 2024

Audiences are fragmented and increasingly rely on nontraditional journalists, creators and influencers for news and information. —Eleanor Hawkins, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nontraditional

• nontraditional family
• nontraditional student