Someone or something that is abnormal is unusual, especially in a way that is worrying.
[formal]
...abnormal heart rhythms and high anxiety levels.
...a child with an abnormal fear of strangers.
Synonyms: unusual, different, odd, strange More Synonyms of abnormal
abnormallyadverb [usually ADVERB adjective/adverb, oft ADVERB with verb]
...abnormally high levels of glucose.
This stops the cells from growing abnormally.
Synonyms: unusually, oddly, strangely, extremely More Synonyms of abnormal
abnormal in British English
(æbˈnɔːməl)
adjective
1.
not normal; deviating from the usual or typical; extraordinary
2. informal
odd in behaviour or appearance; strange
Derived forms
abnormally (abˈnormally)
adverb
Word origin
C19: ab-1 + normal, replacing earlier anormal from Medieval Latin anormalus, a blend of Late Latin anōmalusanomalous + Latin abnormis departing from a rule
abnormal in American English
(æbˈnɔrməl; əbˈnɔrməl)
adjective
not normal; not average; not typical; not usual; irregular, esp. to a considerable degree
SIMILAR WORDS: irˈregular
Derived forms
abnormally (abˈnormally)
adverb
abnormalism (abˈnormalˌism)
noun
Word origin
earlier anormal < Fr anormal, anomal < LL anomalus < Gr anōmalos (see anomalous) infl. by L abnormis < ab-, from + norma, norm
Examples of 'abnormal' in a sentence
abnormal
I feel more normal in an abnormal environment.
The Sun (2016)
What was abnormal behaviour five years ago is now seen as totally normal.
The Sun (2014)
Medicines that can lead to abnormal heart rhythms?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That is more interesting than the normal abnormal childhood of the tennis starlet.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Such abnormal red cells had previously only been seen in the blood of runners after a marathon.
MacIntyre, Anne M. E. Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome - How To Live With It (1989)
The statistical significance of the findings increases with each abnormal result.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And what do we do when we find something abnormal?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It can be both normal and abnormal at the same time.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It can take ten years for abnormal cells detected by smears to become cancerous.
The Sun (2008)
Such a programme would also reduce the anxiety caused by an abnormal smear result.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Sufferers often hide the illness and deny their behaviour is abnormal.
The Sun (2010)
Her smear test has shown abnormal cells.
The Sun (2009)
Reducing the number of abnormal test results would mean a lot less misery for women.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Everything went from really normal to abnormal really quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The drug cannot be used legally without a prescription and has been linked to abnormal growth and disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Reports said that he had been displaying abnormal behaviour and the company had asked his family to come and support him.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Rather, they were attuned to anything abnormal or unusual that might signal danger.
Wills, Christopher The Runaway Brain: the Evolution of Human Uniqueness (1993)
The tumours can cause abnormal growth and thickened skin, osteoarthritis and premature death from heart disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The risk of abnormal heart rhythm rose 61 per cent in the first two months of use.
The Sun (2016)
Broadly speaking, any cancer is basically an abnormal growth of malignant cells.
Laszlo, John (MD) Understanding Cancer (1987)
It leaves sufferers vulnerable to very fast, abnormal heart rhythm.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Blessed with a larger-than-life comic appearance, he has a refreshingly abnormal way of looking at the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You know your body better than anyone else and, if you notice something abnormal with your sight, make sure that you pursue it.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
abnormal
British English: abnormal /æbˈnɔːməl/ ADJECTIVE
Someone or something that is abnormal is unusual in a way that is worrying.
She has an abnormal fear of strangers.
American English: abnormal
Arabic: غَيْرُ طَبِيعِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: anormal
Chinese: 异常
Croatian: abnormalan
Czech: abnormální
Danish: unormal
Dutch: abnormaal
European Spanish: anormal
Finnish: epänormaali
French: anormal
German: abnormal
Greek: αφύσικος
Italian: anomalo
Japanese: 異常な
Korean: 비정상적인
Norwegian: unormal
Polish: nienormalny
European Portuguese: anormal
Romanian: anormal
Russian: патологический
Latin American Spanish: anormal
Swedish: onormal
Thai: ผิดปรกติ
Turkish: anormal
Ukrainian: ненормальний
Vietnamese: không bình thường
Chinese translation of 'abnormal'
abnormal
(æbˈnɔːməl)
adj
[behaviour, child, situation]反常的 (fǎncháng de)
(adjective)
Definition
differing from the usual or typical
a child with an abnormal fear of strangers
Synonyms
unusual
rare and unusual plants
different
Try to think of a menu that is interesting and different.
odd
Something odd began to happen.
strange
There was something strange about the flickering blue light.
surprising
out there (slang)
extraordinary
What an extraordinary thing to happen!
remarkable
He was a remarkable man.
bizarre
That book you lent me is really bizarre.
unexpected
curious
A lot of curious things have happened here in the past few weeks.
weird
I don't like that guy – he's really weird.
exceptional
The courts hold that this case is exceptional.
peculiar
She has a very peculiar sense of humour.
eccentric
an eccentric character who wears a beret and sunglasses
unfamiliar
She grew many plants that were unfamiliar to me.
queer
If you ask me, there's something queer going on.
irregular
The minister was accused of irregular business practices.
phenomenal
a phenomenal performance
uncommon
Certain types of flu are uncommon.
erratic
the erratic nature of our recent weather
monstrous
the film's monstrous fantasy figure
singular
He was without doubt a singular character.
unnatural
The altered landscape looks unnatural and weird.
deviant (old-fashioned)
social reactions to deviant and criminal behaviour
unconventional
He was known for his unconventional behaviour.
off-the-wall (slang)
surreal off-the-wall humour
oddball (informal)
out of the ordinary
Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary about him?
left-field (informal)
anomalous
For years his anomalous behaviour has baffled scientists.
atypical
The economy of the province was atypical because it was so small.
aberrant
His rages and aberrant behaviour worsened.
untypical
wacko (slang, old-fashioned)
outré
outré outfits designed by art students
daggy (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
his slightly daggy hobby of collecting novelty tea towels
Opposites
normal
,
common
,
average
,
natural
,
traditional
,
regular
,
usual
,
ordinary
,
familiar
,
typical
,
conventional
,
routine
,
everyday
,
customary
,
commonplace
,
banal
,
unremarkable
,
unexceptional
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aberrant
Definition
not normal, accurate, or correct
His rages and aberrant behaviour worsened.
Synonyms
abnormal,
odd,
strange,
extraordinary,
wandering,
curious,
weird,
peculiar,
eccentric,
straying,
queer (archaic),
irregular,
rambling,
erratic,
deviant (old-fashioned),
defective,
off-the-wall (slang),
oddball (informal),
divergent,
anomalous,
untypical,
wacko (slang, old-fashioned),
outré,
daggy (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of anomalous
Definition
different from the normal or usual order or type
For years his anomalous behaviour has baffled scientists.
Synonyms
unusual,
odd,
rare,
bizarre,
exceptional,
peculiar,
eccentric,
abnormal,
irregular,
inconsistent,
off-the-wall (slang),
incongruous,
deviating,
oddball (informal),
out there (slang),
atypical,
aberrant,
outré
in the sense of atypical
Definition
not typical
The economy of the province was atypical because it was so small.