subnormal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical, potentially offensive/dated in social/medical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “subnormal” mean?
Below the usual or expected standard, level, or norm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Below the usual or expected standard, level, or norm; specifically, less than normal in intelligence or development.
1. In mathematics: A number that is less than normal in a specific technical sense regarding its decimal expansion. 2. In sociology/statistics: Referring to a group or measurement falling significantly below the statistical average of a population.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though the term's decline in social/educational contexts may have occurred at slightly different rates.
Connotations
Strongly pejorative when referring to people in both varieties. The technical/mathematical sense carries no negative connotation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general discourse. Higher in historical texts or specific technical fields like statistics or mathematics.
Grammar
How to Use “subnormal” in a Sentence
[to be] subnormal[to consider something] subnormalsubnormal [in relation to something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “subnormal” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Children were once incorrectly labelled as educationally subnormal.
- The geiger counter detected subnormal levels of radiation.
American English
- The technician identified a subnormal voltage in the circuit.
- Historical diagnoses often used subnormal as a broad category.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in quality control: 'The batch showed subnormal tensile strength.'
Academic
Used in statistics ('subnormal distribution'), psychology (historically), and mathematics.
Everyday
Avoided due to offensive potential regarding people. May be used for objects/readings: 'The engine is running at a subnormal temperature.'
Technical
Precise term in fields like mathematics (subnormal numbers), medicine (subnormal thyroid function), and metrology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “subnormal”
- Using it as a noun to refer to a person (highly offensive).
- Confusing it with 'abnormal' (which means 'deviating from the norm', not specifically 'below').
- Using it in informal contexts where 'below average' would be more appropriate and less loaded.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This usage is now considered offensive and outdated. Use person-first, specific, and respectful language such as 'a person with a learning disability' or the specific diagnosis.
'Subnormal' specifically means 'below the normal level or standard'. 'Abnormal' means 'deviating from what is normal', which could be below, above, or simply different.
Extremely rarely. In some technical contexts, like aiming for subnormal temperatures in superconductivity research, it might be a desired state, but the word itself simply describes the position relative to a norm.
Mathematics (e.g., subnormal numbers, subnormal operators), some branches of statistics, and occasionally in engineering or physics when describing measurements below a standard reference point.
Below the usual or expected standard, level, or norm.
Subnormal is usually formal, technical, potentially offensive/dated in social/medical contexts. in register.
Subnormal: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌbˈnɔː.məl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌbˈnɔːr.məl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the prefix 'SUB-' meaning 'under' + 'NORMAL'. It literally means 'under normal'.
Conceptual Metaphor
NORMAL IS A LINE (OR AVERAGE); SUBNORMAL IS BELOW THAT LINE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'subnormal' still considered a neutral, technical term?