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
The business also brings meals to seniors, those who are homeless and those living in nontraditional housing communities.
—Olivia Cyrus
july 18, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2025
That includes partnering with local technical colleges, developing internal upskilling programs, and creating pathways for nontraditional candidates to enter the field.
—Ethan Karp, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
With a program of nontraditional performance, European and Beat Generation theater, Prop had to fight to survive and attract audiences, Brun said.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Attempts to find common ground over nontraditional security challenges such as terrorism, climate change, and global health foundered during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations.
—William Hurst, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nontraditional
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Olivia Cyrus
july 18, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2025
That includes partnering with local technical colleges, developing internal upskilling programs, and creating pathways for nontraditional candidates to enter the field.
—Ethan Karp, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
With a program of nontraditional performance, European and Beat Generation theater, Prop had to fight to survive and attract audiences, Brun said.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Attempts to find common ground over nontraditional security challenges such as terrorism, climate change, and global health foundered during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations.
—William Hurst, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 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 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share