Unstandardized

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Not adhering to established benchmarks or criteria, which results in variations and inconsistencies across different assessments or measures
2. Deficient in uniform standards, causing discrepancies and making objective evaluations challenging across numerous applications
3. Failing to meet commonly accepted standards, leading to irregularities and lack of uniformity

Etymology: "Unstandardized" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-", meaning "not" or "the reverse of," attached to "standardized," the past participle of "standardize." The verb "standardize" is itself built from "standard," which came into English from Old French "estendart," a banner or flag, and the sense of a fixed measure grew out of that military and heraldic idea of a rallying point everyone could see and agree on. Because the prefix "un-" is productive, English speakers can attach it to almost any adjective or participle, so "unstandardized" describes something that has not been brought into line with a common measure. Its meaning follows directly from its parts: something that has not been made uniform, and so varies from one case to the next.

Synonyms: non-standardized, irregular, custom, variable, unconventional

Antonyms: standardized, regular, uniform, consistent, conventional