Abnormality

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌæbnɔːˈmælɪtɪ/

Definitions

1. A deviation from what is typical, usual, or expected in structure, function, or condition
2. A deviation from the norm in physical, psychological, or social aspects that results in atypical features or behaviors
3. An irregularity in any system, organism, or condition that diverges from established standards or expectations

Etymology: Abnormality is a plain, transparent formation: the adjective "abnormal" with the suffix "-ity" added, which turns a quality into a noun. The adjective itself is built from the Latin "ab-", meaning "away from", and "norma", a carpenter's square used to test whether a surface was true. Something abnormal, in the original sense, was literally something that had moved away from the right angle. The Latin "norma" traces back to the Etruscan "gnṓmōn" in its Greek form, which meant a judge or a carpenter's tool, so the idea of a measured standard runs through the whole family. "Normal" came into English from Latin "normalis", and "abnormal" followed by adding the negative prefix. The noun "abnormality" is first attested in the mid 19th century, a relatively late arrival. It gave English a clean way to name a departure from the expected, whether in a body, a process, or a pattern of behaviour.

Synonyms: irregularity, anomaly, deviation, exception, aberration

Antonyms: normality, regularity, conformity, standard, typicality