English Reference
Noun

abnormality

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌæbnɔɹˈmæɫəti/ UK /ɐbnɔːmˈælɪti/ ab·nor·mal·i·ty UK spelling abnormalities

n.something that is not normal or expected. It can be a physical change in the body or a strange situation that does not follow the usual rules.

n.a state or condition that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. Often used in medical contexts to describe physical or physiological deviations.


SIMPLE

The doctor noticed a small abnormality in the X-ray.

CONTEXTUAL

The sudden change in the weather was an abnormality that caught the local farmers completely off guard.

COMPLEX

While some minor physical abnormalities are common in healthy populations, the presence of multiple significant deviations often indicates an underlying systemic issue that requires further investigation.

When we asked dozens of herders how they were physically affected by the drought, the majority reported experiencing headaches, breathing abnormalities and extreme sweating— all symptoms of heat-related illness .

Phys.org· 25 Aug 2026

From abnormal + -ity.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated