IRREGULAR
Dictionary entry overview: What does irregular mean?
• IRREGULAR (noun)
The noun IRREGULAR has 2 senses:
1. a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
2. merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name
Familiarity information: IRREGULAR used as a noun is rare.
• IRREGULAR (adjective)
The adjective IRREGULAR has 8 senses:
1. contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
2. (of solids) not having clear dimensions that can be measured; volume must be determined with the principle of liquid displacement
3. not occurring at expected times
4. (used of the military) not belonging to or engaged in by regular army forces
5. deviating from normal expectations; somewhat odd, strange, or abnormal
6. lacking continuity or regularity
7. of a surface; not level or flat
8. independent in behavior or thought
Familiarity information: IRREGULAR used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
• IRREGULAR (noun)
Meaning:
A member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
guerilla; guerrilla; irregular; insurgent
Hypernyms ("irregular" is a kind of...):
warrior (someone engaged in or experienced in warfare)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "irregular"):
Maquis; Maquisard (a guerrilla fighter in the French underground in World War II)
urban guerrilla (a guerrilla who fights only in cities and towns)
Holonyms ("irregular" is a member of...):
guerilla force; guerrilla force (an irregular armed force that fights by sabotage and harassment; often rural and organized in large groups)
Meaning:
Merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
irregular; second
Hypernyms ("irregular" is a kind of...):
merchandise; product; ware (commodities offered for sale)
• IRREGULAR (adjective)
Meaning:
Contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
Context example:
irregular hiring practices
Similar:
strong (of verbs not having standard (or regular) inflection)
randomised; randomized (set up or distributed in a deliberately random way)
improper; unconventional; unlawful (not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention)
casual; occasional (occuring from time to time)
asymmetrical; crooked (irregular in shape or outline)
Also:
illegal (prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules)
unrhythmic; unrhythmical (not rhythmic; irregular in beat or accent)
rough; unsmooth (having or caused by an irregular surface)
unsteady (subject to change or variation)
asymmetric; asymmetrical (characterized by asymmetry in the spatial arrangement or placement of parts or components)
unsystematic (lacking systematic arrangement or method or organization)
Attribute:
regularity (the quality of being characterized by a fixed principle or rate)
Antonym:
regular (in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle)
Meaning:
(of solids) not having clear dimensions that can be measured; volume must be determined with the principle of liquid displacement
Antonym:
regular ((of solids) having clear dimensions that can be measured; volume can be determined with a suitable geometric formula)
Meaning:
Not occurring at expected times
Synonyms:
irregular; unpredictable
Similar:
sporadic (recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances)
Meaning:
(used of the military) not belonging to or engaged in by regular army forces
Context examples:
irregular troops / irregular warfare
Also:
partisan; partizan (devoted to a cause or party)
Antonym:
regular ((used of the military) belonging to or engaged in by legitimate army forces)
Meaning:
Deviating from normal expectations; somewhat odd, strange, or abnormal
Synonyms:
atypical; irregular
Context examples:
these days large families are atypical / atypical clinical findings / atypical pneumonia / highly irregular behavior
Similar:
abnormal (not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm)
Meaning:
Lacking continuity or regularity
Synonyms:
temporary; irregular
Context examples:
an irregular worker / employed on a temporary basis
Similar:
part-time; parttime (involving less than the standard or customary time for an activity)
Meaning:
Of a surface; not level or flat
Context example:
walking was difficult on the irregular cobblestoned surface
Similar:
uneven (not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture)
Meaning:
Independent in behavior or thought
Synonyms:
unorthodox; maverick; irregular
Context examples:
she led a somewhat irregular private life / maverick politicians
Similar:
unconventional (not conforming to accepted rules or standards)
