Main Entry: sub·stan·dard

Pronunciation: \ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd\

Function: adjective

Date: 1897

: deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: 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