substandard
adjective
sub·stan·dard
ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd 
: deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: such as
a
: of a quality lower than that prescribed by law
substandard housing
b
: conforming to a pattern of linguistic usage existing within a speech community but not that of the prestige group in that community
c
: constituting a greater than normal risk to an insurer
Examples of substandard in a Sentence
a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation
Recent Examples on the Web
The improvements of the Knicks, combined with a substandard night from the Pacers, led to a blowout.
—
Tony East, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
The substandard detention conditions and complete dismantling of humanitarian release are counter to current law, inhumane, and expensive.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, an aging, but still useful stadium will sit, basically vacant, while the University of Maryland, just a few exits up the Capital Beltway, is trying to compete in the Big Ten in a substandard ramshackle football stadium completed in 1950.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2025
The physician who provides substandard care out of political conviction rather than medical evidence?
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
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Tony East, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
The substandard detention conditions and complete dismantling of humanitarian release are counter to current law, inhumane, and expensive.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, an aging, but still useful stadium will sit, basically vacant, while the University of Maryland, just a few exits up the Capital Beltway, is trying to compete in the Big Ten in a substandard ramshackle football stadium completed in 1950.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2025
The physician who provides substandard care out of political conviction rather than medical evidence?
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
Cite this Entry
“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substandard. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
substandard
adjective
sub·stan·dard
ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd
ˈsəb-
1
: varying from or falling short of a standard or norm
substandard housing
2
: following a pattern of linguistic usage that is not considered standard
substandard English
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