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

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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 Although Bonin’s $700 savings may be atypical, the discounts can be significant. — Washington Post, 29 June 2021 Design veterans with experience creating products for big tech brands like Apple and Samsung confirmed that Amazon’s method was atypical. — New York Times, 16 June 2021 Uche’s rookie offseason was atypical because of the coronavirus protocols in place. — BostonGlobe.com, 16 June 2021 The extreme temperatures are atypical in Los Angeles in June, which is usually still mired in a marine layer with clouds and fog, Woffard said. — Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2021 The use of money from the fund balance isn’t atypical — the board has done it now for at least five straight years — but one school board member believes the way it’s been used violates the Board of Education’s own policy. — Jacob Calvin Meyer, baltimoresun.com, 4 June 2021 So, yeah, it's been a very rewarding career, if atypical. — CBS News, 9 June 2021 Chest pain is atypical in pediatric patients, but myocarditis can be a side effect from other vaccinations, particularly smallpox, as well as viral infections, drug use or toxins in the system. — oregonlive, 9 June 2021 For an armed robbery case, the amount of advocacy was atypical. — Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 June 2021

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

8 Jul 2021

Cite this Entry

“Atypical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atypical. Accessed 31 Jul. 2021.

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More Definitions for atypical

atypical

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of atypical

: not typical : not usual or normal

See the full definition for atypical in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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, 20 Nov. 2001 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, 24 Feb. 1993 In some patients with atypical dysgenesis, the smear may show slight proliferation.— George L Wied et al., Compendium on Diagnostic Cytology, 1976

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, 19 Aug. 2002 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, 22 Sept. 2005

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, 31 July 2007

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, 28 June 1999