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deviant

 - 6 dictionary results

de⋅vi⋅ant

  [dee-vee-uhnt]
–adjective
1. deviating or departing from the norm; characterized by deviation: deviant social behavior.
–noun
2. a person or thing that deviates or departs markedly from the accepted norm.
Use deviant in a Sentence
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL dēviant- (s. of dēviāns, prp. of dēviāre to deviate ), equiv. to L dē- de- + vi(a) road, way + -ant- -ant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To deviant
de·vi·ant   (dē'vē-ənt)   
adj.  Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society.
n.  One that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards.

[Middle English deviaunt, from Late Latin dēviāns, dēviant-, present participle of dēviāre, to deviate; see deviate.]
de'vi·ance, de'vi·an·cy n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

deviant 
c.1400 (adj.), from L.L. deviantem, prp. of deviare "turn aside," from L. phrase de via, from de "off" + via "way." The noun, in the sexual sense, is attested from 1952; also deviate (n.), recorded since 1947. The verb deviate (c.1633) is from the L. pp. stem. Deviation in the statistical sense is first attested 1858.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1de·vi·ant
Pronunciation: -&nt
Function: adjective
: deviating especially from some accepted norm : characterized by deviation (as from a standard of conduct) deviant conduct> <deviant men often choose deviant women —Margaret Mead>

Main Entry: 2deviant
Function: noun
: something that deviates from a norm; especially : a person who differs markedly (as in intelligence,social adjustment, or sexual behavior) from what is considered normal for a group
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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deviant de·vi·ant (dē'vē-ənt)
adj.
Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society. n.
One that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards.

de'vi·ance or de'vi·an·cy n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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