nontraditional
adjective
non·tra·di·tion·al
ˌnän-trə-ˈdish-nəl 
-ˈdi-shə-nᵊl
: not following or conforming to tradition : not adhering to past practices or conventions : not traditional
a nontraditional family
nontraditional students
nontraditional menu items
Many use nontraditional teaching techniques, and they deliberately draw their students from beyond traditional neighborhood boundaries …—
Thomas Toch
Thomas Toch
nontraditionally
adverb
… to learn how to build and sell cars nontraditionally …
—Michael Schrage
Michael Schrage
Examples of nontraditional in a Sentence
a nontraditional couple who are planning a very unconventional wedding
Recent Examples on the Web
Hardin County Schools district cancels classes for Monday Hardin County Schools are closed Monday due to flood conditions, district officials announced in a Facebook post, adding there will be no nontraditional instruction for students.
—Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
In fact, a 2023 U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey found that 95% of executives and HR heads say nontraditional candidates perform just as well, if not better than, degree-holders.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Once opposed to nontraditional station guests, NASA now throws out the welcome mat, charging for their food and upkeep while insisting that an experienced astronaut accompany them.
—Arkansas Online, 26 June 2025
The choice board at the end of last school year had nontraditional and exciting choices (create a Netflix series using themes from the course; create a children’s picture book explaining a concept learned this year; a crossword puzzle, comic strip, movie poster, etc.).
—T.s. Grant, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
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Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
In fact, a 2023 U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey found that 95% of executives and HR heads say nontraditional candidates perform just as well, if not better than, degree-holders.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Once opposed to nontraditional station guests, NASA now throws out the welcome mat, charging for their food and upkeep while insisting that an experienced astronaut accompany them.
—Arkansas Online, 26 June 2025
The choice board at the end of last school year had nontraditional and exciting choices (create a Netflix series using themes from the course; create a children’s picture book explaining a concept learned this year; a crossword puzzle, comic strip, movie poster, etc.).
—T.s. Grant, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for nontraditional
Cite this Entry
“Nontraditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nontraditional. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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