# deviant

/ˈdiviənt/ (US) · /dˈiːviənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deviant
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. departing from norms

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

describing behavior or ideas that are very different from what most people consider normal or acceptable.

For teachers: differing from an accepted social, moral, or statistical standard. Often carries a negative connotation in sociological contexts regarding behavior.

- The study looked at deviant behavior in teenagers who refused to follow any school rules.
- Sociologists often debate whether deviant acts are inherent to the individual or a product of restrictive social labeling.

### 2. a person who breaks norms

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person whose behavior is different from what is considered normal or acceptable by society.

For teachers: a person who deviates from established social norms or standards of behavior.

- In the past, anyone who didn't follow the local religion was seen as a deviant.
- The regime labeled all political protesters as social deviants to justify their imprisonment without trial.

### 3. DeviantArt user

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

a member of the famous online art community called DeviantArt.

For teachers: a specific demonym for a registered user of the DeviantArt online gallery and community.

- She has been a deviant for five years and has uploaded hundreds of digital paintings.
- The platform allows every deviant to curate their own gallery and receive feedback from a global audience of fellow artists.

Usage: Usually capitalized when referring specifically to the website's users.

## Examples

- The study looks at deviant behavior in schools.
- Sociologists often study how certain subcultures develop deviant norms that contrast with the rest of society.
- While the artist's techniques were initially dismissed as deviant and chaotic, they eventually became the foundation for a new movement in modern painting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.