irregular
n. countablen. a word that does not follow the usual grammar rules for its group. For example, 'went' is an irregular because it does not end in '-ed' like most past tense verbs.
n. a linguistic form that does not follow the standard morphological patterns of its class. Often refers to verbs or nouns that deviate from the productive rules of conjugation or declension.
The verb 'to be' is a common irregular in English.
Students often struggle to memorize the list of irregulars when learning the past simple tense.
While most English verbs follow a predictable pattern, the high-frequency irregulars are often remnants of older linguistic structures that have resisted the pressure of regularization over centuries.
From Middle English irreguler, from Old French irreguler, from Medieval Latin or Late Latin irrēgulāris, from in- + regularis, equivalent to ir- + regular.
Commonly used in a pedagogical context to refer to verbs, nouns, or adjectives that do not follow standard rules.