Meaning & use
deviant
Differing significantly from accepted social norms or standards of behavior.
See it in a sentence
The report described the group's deviant behavior as a threat to public order.
Sociologists study deviant behavior to understand why some people break social rules.
A note on using this word
Deviant can sound clinical or judgmental depending on context; in sociology it is a neutral technical term, but in casual speech it often carries a negative tone.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
normalconventional
Another way to use it
2. noun
A person whose behavior departs markedly from accepted social norms.
The novel follows a small-town deviant who refuses to conform to anyone's expectations.
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