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nontraditional

nontraditional

12 5.9
Not doing things in the usual way
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒntrəˈdɪʃənl/
translation icon : no tradicional
  • Additional postdocs may work at government agencies, for-profit businesses, non-profits, or in nontraditional educational settings.
  • nontraditional students
  • nontraditional settings
  • nontraditional jobs

Beast will will do something nontraditional.

Examples

  • Many health insurance plans don't cover acupuncture because it is nontraditional, although some do.

  • Collaborate with teachers to promote nontraditional approaches to teaching and learning that motivate and engage young learners.

    Academic text (2008)
  • There are a variety of reasons that nontraditional students seek out a higher education.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The federal government must enable them to continue their work in building nontraditional relationships.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The students in the traditional and nontraditional courses receive the same amount of credit.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Encourage teachers to use photos as part of nontraditional student projects.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Over the last several years, a variety of nontraditional fitness activities have been offered in fitness centers.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The teacher's role in cooperative learning is nontraditional and is not always obvious.

    Academic text (1992)
  • At the same time, theater faculty identified difficulties for nontraditional students on regional campuses.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Over the last several years, a variety of nontraditional fitness activities have been offered in fitness centers.

Synonyms

unconventional
vsnontraditional
77 6.2

Different from what most people do or accept

is the broader absence of traditional practice without novelty focus
unorthodox
vsnontraditional
52 7.3

Not following the usual rules or customs

covers that nonconformity generally without implying oddity
untraditional
vsnontraditional
3 5.3

Not following usual ways or customs

is the same idea but stated more neutrally about customs
nonconformist
vsnontraditional
3 7.4

Not following the usual customs or rules of society

describes the same nonfollowing quality but as a general descriptor
nonconforming
vsnontraditional
2 7.1

Not following usual customs or religious beliefs

applies the same nonfollowing idea across everyday practices too
nonstandard
vsnontraditional
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Not following the usual language rules used in formal speech or writing

is broader, covering customs and practices beyond language alone
nonorthodox
vsnontraditional
7.0

Not following usual ideas or ways

is the general lack of following customs rather than a formal label
heterodoxical
vsnontraditional
  • Formal
9.3

Not following the usual beliefs or practices

is similar but used more widely for customs and practice
unconformist
vsnontraditional
8.2

Not following the usual rules or ways that most people accept

is nearly the same but can name a person or an action
antitraditional
vsnontraditional
7.6

Not supporting traditional ideas and old ways of doing things

expresses nonfollowing more neutrally without active opposition
nonmainstream
vsnontraditional
6.8

Not part of the most common styles or trends

focuses on group status rather than simply not following customs
nonnormative
vsnontraditional
9.0

Not usual or what most people expect

refers specifically to departure from customs and practices

Antonyms

994 1.5

Following long-held customs and ways of doing things

How Nontraditional

revolutionary
103 5.2
avant-garde
7 8.2
nontraditional
12 5.9

Surface Forms

nontraditional positive
nontraditionally positive

Morphology

nontraditional = traditional (transparent) = non + traditional

The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the adjective 'traditional', making the meaning straightforward.

Etymology

Nontraditional is made of non- ('not') and traditional, and traditional comes from a root meaning 'to hand down', the customs people pass from one generation to the next. So nontraditional means 'not handed down' or not following the usual customs.