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

• bad
• bastard
• bush
• bush-league
• crummy
• crumby
• deficient
• dissatisfactory
• ill
• inferior
• lame
• lousy
• off
• paltry
• poor
• punk
• sour
• suboptimal
• subpar
• unacceptable
• unsatisfactory
• wack [slang]
• wanting
• wretched
• wrong

Examples of substandard in a Sentence

a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation

Recent Examples on the Web

That was the case two years ago when the Vikings were drummed out of the playoffs by the New York Giants at home because their defense was substandard. —Steve Silverman, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Loading your audio article Squalid conditions and substandard care went hand-in-hand with massive fraud at a New Jersey nursing home that bilked Medicaid of millions, state officials said in a scathing, 52-page report released Thursday. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024

Beyond the health problems faced by these dogs (and the unsuspecting people who buy them), the breeding conditions are often substandard. —Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024

The issue is being framed by the American Veterinary Medical Association — which opposes the measure — as a choice between substandard care and the status quo. —The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Kids 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

Legal Definition

substandard

adjective

sub·​stan·​dard

: deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: as

a

: of a quality lower than that prescribed by law

b

: constituting a greater than normal risk to an insurer