nonconformist

noun

non·con·form·ist | \ ˌnän-kən-ˈfȯr-mist

Definition of nonconformist

1 often capitalized : a person who does not conform to an established church especially : one who does not conform to the Church of England

2 : a person who does not conform to a generally accepted pattern of thought or action

Other Words from nonconformist Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about nonconformist

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Examples of nonconformist in a Sentence

He was a nonconformist in college but now wears a three-piece suit to work every day. They were stubborn nonconformists who chose to be arrested instead of obeying the laws.

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, looting museums was one of the charges that the authorities leveled against Parajanov, a nonconformist who was persecuted and imprisoned on suspicions of homosexuality and became a cause célèbre among Western cinephiles. — New York Times, "In ‘The Color of Pomegranates,’ the Cinema of the Cryptic," 24 May 2018 In this regard, Mr. Caplan is quite the nonconformist. — James Taranto, WSJ, "School Is Expensive. Is It Worth It?," 13 Apr. 2018 Of her half-dozen siblings, Aimée was the wild child, an unapologetic rule breaker and inspiration to nonconformists everywhere. — Kate Siber, Outside Online, "The Bohemian Heiress Who Shattered 19th-Century Taboos," 24 Apr. 2018 Dearden will topline the pilot as Karen Wolff, a nonconformist who secretly wishes to fit in and be accepted. — Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "Hulu's Carrie Brownstein Comedy Finds Leads in Taylor Dearden, Aubrey Peeples," 8 Mar. 2018 Relatives and children of nonconformists were disadvantaged, their life chances limited. — Paul Roderick Gregory, WSJ, "What the ‘Great Terror’ Taught Autocrats," 23 Aug. 2017 Tan found inspiration in such nonconformists as Jarmusch and Lynch, and film became her favorite language (clips from classics of the auteur canon punctuate the doc, to variously witty and stirring effect). — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Shirkers': Film Review | Sundance 2018," 23 Jan. 2018 Pink is once again playing the part of the mainstream’s favorite nonconformist, singing of insecurities and imperfect relationships replete with drinking and fighting, but with an idealism that shines through and ensures maximum marketability. — Joe Coscarelli, New York Times, "Pink Quietly Became Pop Royalty. Here’s How She Made It Last.," 5 Oct. 2017 Considering that the Belgian nonconformist set out to challenge the fashion system—not just with his designs, but also with his way of conducting business—the industry’s current fixation on him is more than a little ironic. — Vogue, "Didn’t Make It to Antwerp for “Margiela: The Hermès Years”? See Rare Images From 8 of the Designer’s Collections for the House, Here," 21 Aug. 2017

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