- denoting language characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc, that is not regarded as correct and acceptable; not standard
- deviating from a given standard
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
non•stand•ard /ˈnɑnˈstændɚd/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- not standard.
- Linguisticsnot agreeing with the pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, etc., that is felt to be the usage considered acceptable by most educated native speakers:nonstandard English.Compare standard (def. 11).
non•stand•ard
(non′stan′dərd),USA pronunciation adj.
- not standard.
- Linguisticsnot conforming in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, etc., to the usage characteristic of and considered acceptable by most educated native speakers;
lacking in social prestige or regionally or socially limited in use:a nonstandard dialect; nonstandard English.Cf. standard (def. 27). - Mathematicsof or pertaining to a generalized system of numbers that includes the real numbers but also includes infinite and infinitesimal numbers:nonstandard analysis.
- non- + standard 1920–25
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
nonstandard /ˌnɒnˈstændəd/ adj