departure from the norm

NOUN

variation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abnormality alteration change deviation discrepancy disparity divergence diversity fluctuation innovation modification mutation shift variety

STRONG

aberration adaptation bend break contradistinction contrast curve deflection departure digression displacement dissimilarity dissimilitude distinction diversification exception inequality novelty swerve turn

WEAK

unconformity

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreement harmony sameness similarity stagnation uniformity

STRONG

conformity continuation equality likeness line normality regularity

WEAK

root source

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

British ambassadors are usually career diplomats, but in a departure from the norm, Lord Mandelson was a politician and businessman when he was appointed to the top diplomatic role in Washington.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

He hadn’t thought that far ahead, a departure from the norm for a man who took Washington State to places it hadn’t been in a lifetime.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 23, 2024

In what was largely a departure from the norm, he also played to the Republicans in attendance, goading them into peeved responses that he could then meet with a confident camaraderie:

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2023

But it's already abundantly clear that Europe just experienced a severe departure from the norm.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2023

In old days an anomaly was called πάθος, and in this sense every departure from the norm is for me a pathological event.

From Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 Sexual Inversion by Ellis, Havelock

departure from the norm

Example Sentences

Related Words