misfit

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who does not fit in well with a group or environment because they are different.

   Grammar: Countable noun: a misfit, two misfits. Often used with 'social' or 'misfit in'.

   Patterns

   • a misfit in a group
   • a social misfit
   • feel like a misfit

   He always felt like a misfit at the exclusive country club.

   The new student was a misfit until she joined the debate team.

   In the novel, the protagonist is a misfit who eventually finds his own community.

2. 2nouncountable

   Something that does not fit or is not suitable for a particular purpose or situation.

   Grammar: Countable noun; often used for objects or abstract things: a misfit in the system.

   Patterns

   • a misfit in something
   • a misfit for a purpose

   The old software was a misfit in the new operating system.

   This piece of furniture is a misfit in our modern living room.

Word forms

Common combinations

social misfit

He was labeled a social misfit because he preferred books to parties.

feel like a misfit

Many teenagers feel like misfits at some point.

a misfit in

She was a misfit in the corporate world and left to start her own business.

misfit toy

The island of misfit toys is a famous part of the Rudolph story.

Synonyms and how they differ

outsider

Neutral term for someone not accepted by a group; misfit often implies a stronger sense of not belonging.

oddball

Informal and slightly derogatory; misfit can be more sympathetic, especially in stories.

nonconformist

Someone who chooses not to follow group norms; misfit suggests they are excluded rather than choosing difference.

Opposites

Word family

misfits noun

Plural form; also used as a collective term for people who don't fit in.

Commonly confused: misfit or misfire?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “misfit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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