Skip to main content
subnormal

subnormal

1 6.4
Lower than the normal level in amount or quality
  • adjective
  • /sʌbˈnɔːrməl/
translation icon : subnormal
  • His test scores were subnormal, indicating he may need extra support.
  • subnormal bone conduction
  • subnormal bone
  • subnormal hearing

Examples

  • If we have subnormal inflation, bad things will happen.

    Blog text (12)
  • Subnormal operation of the banking industry might drag on for a few years.

    Blog text (32)
  • "In fact, her temperature was subnormal." "And you did get a strong history of asthma and allergies," Jack said.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • At baseline assessment, 31% of the patients had subnormal blood thiamine levels and 30% had low folate.

    Blog text (31)
  • Due to a subnormal pituitary gland, he was unable to resist the powerful influence of Nathan Leopold.

  • The company's profits have been subnormal this quarter compared to last year.

  • After the assessment, the doctor noted that her physical fitness was subnormal for her age.

Synonyms

low
vssubnormal
1.0

Not enough in amount or level

emphasizes below normal or average in amount quality or performance
low-level
vssubnormal
33 3.8

Not very strong and present in small amounts

covers being below normal or average rather than only low intensity
substandard
vssubnormal
27 4.4

Not as good as the usual or required quality

is about being below normal or average rather than below required level
subpar
vssubnormal
15 4.5

Not as good as people expect

refers to being below normal or average rather than failing standards
below par
vssubnormal
  • Informal
1 4.8

Worse than usual or expected in quality, performance and health

focuses on being below normal or average generally, not only condition
subaverage
vssubnormal
4.9

Lower than the normal level in quality or performance

is broader, meaning below normal or average across situations
lowish
vssubnormal
3.0

Slightly below the usual amount, level, or sound

indicates being below normal or average more clearly rather than only slight

Antonyms

1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

35 3.2

Better than most people or things of the same kind

Compounds

Thinking ability that is much lower than most people's and shown by standard tests

How Normal

exceptional
129 4.1
above normal
12 3.4
normal
1.0
subnormal
1 6.4
abnormal
100 4.2

Surface Forms

subnormal positive
subnormaler comparative
subnormalest superlative

Morphology

subnormal = normal (transparent) = sub + normal

Standard prefixation: 'sub-' meaning 'under/below' combined with 'normal' yields 'below normal', a meaning that learners can derive directly.

Etymology

Subnormal has the prefix sub- meaning 'under', the same sub- you see in submarine, and normal meaning 'usual' or 'standard'. So it literally means 'under the usual level', which is why we use it for amounts, quality, or performance below average.