Meaning & Definition of Nonstandard in English

1. Not conforming to the language usage of a prestige group within a community

• "A nonstandard dialect is one used by uneducated speakers or socially disfavored groups"

• "The common core of nonstandard words and phrases in folk speech"- a.r.dunlap

2. Varying from or not adhering to a standard

• "Nonstandard windows"

• "Envelopes of nonstandard sizes"

• "Nonstandard lengths of board"

3. Not standard

• Not accepted as a model of excellence

• "A nonstandard text"