deviance

Plural: deviances

Noun

• Behavior that departs from accepted norms.
• a state or condition markedly different from the norm
• deviate behavior
• Actions or behaviors that violate formal and informal cultural norms such as laws and customs.
• A person or thing that differs from the expected.

Examples

• Playing ’QI’ without a ’U’ might seem like deviance, but it’s a perfectly valid Scrabble move.
• Socrates was sentenced to death for his deviance.

Synonyms

aberrance, aberrancy, aberration, deviation

Related Words

deviant, deviation