adj B1 Intermediate Uncommon

abnormal

ab-NAW-muhl

Abnormal (adj) means different from what is usual, expected, or average; not normal. Example: “The blood test showed abnormal levels of iron.”

adj

Different from what is usual, expected, or average; not normal.

"The blood test showed abnormal levels of iron."

"It's abnormal for a toddler to speak in full sentences this early."

How to Use Abnormal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot typical — outside the usual range, often in a medical or statistical sense.

Common pairings

abnormal behavior abnormal levels abnormally high/low

Word Forms

more abnormal comparative, abnormals plural, most abnormal superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The blood test showed _____ levels of iron.

Etymology

From ab- ("away from") + normal, itself from Latin norma ("rule, pattern").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for abnormal

normal formal informal paranormal

See all rhymes for abnormal →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “abnormal” mean?

The word “abnormal” means different from what is usual, expected, or average; not normal. In plain terms, not typical — outside the usual range, often in a medical or statistical sense.

How do you pronounce “abnormal”?

“Abnormal” is pronounced ab-NAW-muhl (/ˌæbˈnɔɹ.ml̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “abnormal” in a sentence?

Here is “abnormal” used in a sentence: “The blood test showed abnormal levels of iron.”

What part of speech is “abnormal”?

“Abnormal” is an adjective.

Where does the word “abnormal” come from?

The word “abnormal” comes from Latin. From ab- ("away from") + normal, itself from Latin norma ("rule, pattern").

Is “abnormal” a common word?

“Abnormal” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

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Words With Latin Origins