substandard
adjective
sub·stan·dard
ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd 
: deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: such as
a
: of a quality lower than that prescribed by law
substandard housing
b
: conforming to a pattern of linguistic usage existing within a speech community but not that of the prestige group in that community
c
: constituting a greater than normal risk to an insurer
Synonyms
Examples of substandard in a Sentence
a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation
Recent Examples on the Web
Marya Lieberman, an analytical chemist at the University of Notre Dame who specializes in the detection of substandard and falsified pharmaceuticals, said regulators face a daunting task to remove these illicit sites.
—
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
A day before the fire, Independence expanded the program after buildings that had passed inspections under the old guidelines gained publicity for substandard and dangerous living conditions.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2025
Because housing can be scarce, Californians have taken shelter in substandard housing, which is often unsafe, the ordinance states.
—Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2025
In October, Evergreen Dairy Farm agreed to a settlement with the state of Minnesota over charges of wage theft and substandard housing.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for substandard 
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Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
A day before the fire, Independence expanded the program after buildings that had passed inspections under the old guidelines gained publicity for substandard and dangerous living conditions.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2025
Because housing can be scarce, Californians have taken shelter in substandard housing, which is often unsafe, the ordinance states.
—Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2025
In October, Evergreen Dairy Farm agreed to a settlement with the state of Minnesota over charges of wage theft and substandard housing.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for substandard
Dictionary Entries Near substandard
Cite this Entry
“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substandard. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
substandard
adjective
sub·stan·dard
ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd
ˈsəb-
1
: varying from or falling short of a standard or norm
substandard housing
2
: following a pattern of linguistic usage that is not considered standard
substandard English
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