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Irregular: meaning, definitions and examples

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irregular

 

[ ɪˈrɛɡjʊlər ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

grammar

Not following the usual rules or patterns; not regular or predictable.

Synonyms

abnormal, inconsistent, unpredictable

Examples of usage

  • He has an irregular work schedule, so he never knows when he will be off.
  • The irregular verb 'go' does not follow the standard conjugation rules in English.
  • Her heartbeat was irregular, so the doctor recommended further tests.
Context #2 | Noun

military

A soldier or sailor who does not belong to a regular military force.

Synonyms

guerrilla, insurgent, militia

Examples of usage

  • The irregulars were called in to provide additional support during the conflict.
  • The group of irregulars was known for their guerrilla warfare tactics.

Translations

Translations of the word "irregular" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irregular

🇮🇳 अनियमित

🇩🇪 unregelmäßig

🇮🇩 tidak teratur

🇺🇦 нерегулярний

🇵🇱 nieregularny

🇯🇵 不規則な

🇫🇷 irréguier

🇪🇸 irregular

🇹🇷 düzensiz

🇰🇷 불규칙한

🇸🇦 غير منتظم

🇨🇿 nepravidelný

🇸🇰 nepravidelný

🇨🇳 不规则的

🇸🇮 neredna

🇮🇸 óreglulegur

🇰🇿 ретсіз

🇬🇪 არარეგულარული

🇦🇿 nizamsız

🇲🇽 irregular

Etymology

The word 'irregular' originated from the Latin word 'irregularis', which means 'not according to rule'. It first appeared in the English language in the late 16th century. The term was initially used in a grammatical context to describe verbs that do not follow standard conjugation patterns. Over time, its usage expanded to describe anything that deviates from the normal or expected. In military contexts, 'irregular' came to refer to soldiers or fighters who were not part of a regular army or force.

See also: irregularly, regular, regularity, regularize, regularly, regulars.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,734, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.