atypical

adjective

atyp·i·cal | \ (ˌ)ā-ˈti-pi-kəl

Definition of atypical

1 : not typical : irregular, unusual an atypical form of a disease atypical weather for this area

2 medical : relating to or being an antipsychotic drug (such as risperidone) that tends to produce fewer adverse side effects on movement (such as dyskinesia) than previously used antipsychotic drugs (such as haloperidol) Atypical antipsychotics work more precisely, manipulating both dopamine and serotonin and suppressing symptoms without causing so many associated problems.— Jeffrey Kluger

Other Words from atypical Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing atypical Learn More About atypical

Other Words from atypical

atypicality \ ˌā-ˌti-pə-ˈka-lə-tē

\ noun, plural atypicalities

atypically \ (ˌ)ā-ˈti-pi-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

Examples of atypical in a Sentence

the postal service delivered the package with atypical speed since that's an atypical response for an infant, you might want to have her hearing tested

Recent Examples on the Web Five modern photographers whose portraits are atypical, uncomfortable and yet inexplicably attractive. — Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 27 Sep. 2022 That polity, the Austrian Empire, was atypical for its era, and can seem stranger still to us today. — Patrick Blanchfield, The New Republic, 1 Sep. 2022 This is Rogers’ third year on varsity, but the first two seasons were atypical. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 So your 13- to 18-year-old isn’t atypical if they are intrigued by sexting (although sending unwelcome photographs of themselves to others or pressuring others into sending images would be concerning). — Elizabeth Chang, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 And this is exactly what happens, but not before Kim absolutely lights up Mike Ehrmentraut (Jonathan Banks) for his (admittedly atypical) lapse in vigilance. — Kat Rosenfield, EW.com, 12 July 2022 This year’s outbreak is worrisome and atypical of previous episodes, especially given the number of countries now reporting cases and the ongoing public health burden of the Covid-19 pandemic. — Paul Chaplin, STAT, 8 July 2022 That’s not atypical for a rookie bouncing back and forth from the minors. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2022 Excess use of Reclast can lead to frozen bone, where there is no bone turnover, making the bones brittle and predisposing a person to atypical femur fractures. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 30 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atypical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

30 Sep 2022

Cite this Entry

“Atypical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atypical. Accessed 5 Oct. 2022.

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More Definitions for atypical

atypical

adjective

atyp·i·cal | \ ˈā-ˈti-pi-kəl

Kids Definition of atypical

: not usual or normal : not typical an atypical case

atypical

adjective

atyp·i·cal | \ (ˈ)ā-ˈtip-i-kəl

Medical Definition of atypical

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : not typical : not like the usual or normal type The procedure, ductal lavage, washes cells from the milk ducts, where 95 percent of breast cancers start. Tests can then be performed to look for atypical or abnormal cells.— Judith Groch, The New York Times The results of treatment of patients with gallstones are less successful in individuals with atypical pain patterns or painless dyspepsia … — The Journal of the American Medical Association In some patients with atypical dysgenesis, the smear may show slight proliferation.— George L Wied et al., Compendium on Diagnostic Cytology

2 : relating to or being an antipsychotic drug (such as aripiprazole and risperidone) that tends to produce fewer adverse side effects on movement (such as akathisia or dyskinesia) than previously used antipsychotic drugs (such as haloperidol) Atypical antipsychotics work more precisely, manipulating both dopamine and serotonin and suppressing symptoms without causing so many associated problems.— Jeffrey Kluger, Time Although studies indicated that the atypical drugs are similar to the conventional drugs in reducing psychotic symptoms and produce few neurologic effects, the evidence of their superior efficacy has been neither consistent nor robust …— Jeffrey A. Lieberman et al., The New England Journal of Medicine

Other Words from atypical

atypically \ (ˈ)ā-ˈtip-i-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

Atypically depressed patients often show a different clinical picture from those with "classical" major depression. — Ronald Pies, The New York Times

atypical

noun

Medical Definition of atypical (Entry 2 of 2)

: an atypical antipsychotic drug (see atypical entry 1 sense 2) Her 24-year-old daughter, diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1993, had problems with two types of atypicals before a third proved successful.— Stephaan Harris, USA Today