deviant
- 01 C1 Advanced
adj.describing behavior or ideas that are very different from what most people consider normal or acceptable.
adj.differing from an accepted social, moral, or statistical standard. Often carries a negative connotation in sociological contexts regarding behavior.
Simple“The study looked at deviant behavior in teenagers who refused to follow any school rules.”
In context“Sociologists often debate whether deviant acts are inherent to the individual or a product of restrictive social labeling.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a person whose behavior is different from what is considered normal or acceptable by society.
n.a person who deviates from established social norms or standards of behavior.
Simple“In the past, anyone who didn't follow the local religion was seen as a deviant.”
In context“The regime labeled all political protesters as social deviants to justify their imprisonment without trial.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a member of the famous online art community called DeviantArt.
n.a specific demonym for a registered user of the DeviantArt online gallery and community.
Simple“She has been a deviant for five years and has uploaded hundreds of digital paintings.”
In context“The platform allows every deviant to curate their own gallery and receive feedback from a global audience of fellow artists.”
UsageUsually capitalized when referring specifically to the website's users.
“The mentally ill are residents of the “nuthouse”; women are “into lesbianism”; and a gay murder victim is a “deviant”.”
From Middle English devyaunt (“deviating, different”), from Late Latin dēviāns, present participle of dēviō (“to stray, deviate or detour”). The noun is from the adjective, possibly attested in Middle English with the meaning “one who goes astray”. * (DeviantArt member): So called because the website was originally for people who modified (deviated) computer applications.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.