Origin: Latin suffix -al
Abnormal has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
A person or object that is not normal.
"The doctor noted an abnormal growth on his skin during the routine checkup."
In plain English: An abnormal person is someone who acts very differently from what most people do.
"She treated his sudden outburst as an emotional abnormal rather than a sign of anger."
departing from the normal in e.g. intelligence and development
"they were heartbroken when they learned their child was abnormal"
"an abnormal personality"
Not conforming to rule or system; deviating from the usual or normal type.
"The patient's heart rate was abnormal, showing a significant deviation from the standard rhythm expected in a healthy individual."
In plain English: Abnormal means something is not normal, expected, or right for its kind.
"The traffic patterns are showing abnormal levels of congestion due to the festival."
Usage: Use abnormal as an adjective meaning something that differs significantly from what is typical, expected, or standard in a specific context. Avoid confusing it with "unusual," which simply implies rarity rather than a deviation from established norms or rules.
The word abnormal comes from the Latin combination of ab- meaning "away from" and norma meaning "rule." It was first used in English in 1835 to describe something that departs from the norm.