irregular
pronunciation
How to pronounce irregular in British English:
UK [ɪˈreɡjələ(r)]
How to pronounce irregular in American English:
US [ɪˈreɡjələr]
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- Noun:
- a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
- merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name
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- Adjective:
- contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
- (of solids) not having clear dimensions that can be measured; volume must be determined with the principle of liquid displacement
- not occurring at expected times
- used of the military; not belonging to or engaged in by regular army forces
- deviating from what is usual or common or to be expected; often somewhat odd or strange
- lacking continuity or regularity
- of a surface; not level or flat
- used of independent armed resistance forces
- independent in behavior or thought
Word Origin
- irregular (adj.)
- late 14c., "not in conformity with Church rules," from Old French irreguler (13c., Modern French irrégulier), from Medieval Latin irregularis, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + Latin regularis (see regular (adj.)). General sense is from late 15c.
- irregular (n.)
- "a soldier not of the regular army," 1747, from irregular (adj.).
Antonym
Example
- 1. Apparently newborns can sometimes have problems with irregular breathing .
- 2. Irregular surfaces show up brightly and smooth areas are dark .
- 3. Others are irregular fragments of such planetoids brought about by collisions .
- 4. If the shape is irregular , the shadow should follow its outline .
- 5. Irregular stripes would let potential mates know that someone was not up to snuff .