irregular
ih-REG-yoo-ler
/ɪˈrɛɡjʊlər/
Not conforming to established rules, standards, or patterns; (especially of soldiers) not belonging to regular or established army units.
In a military context, 'irregular' implies a lack of formal training, uniform, or official structure compared to a conventional army.
The story behind the word. The word 'irregular' comes from the Latin 'irregularis', formed by combining 'in-' (meaning 'not') with 'regularis' (meaning 'regular', from 'regula', a 'rule' or 'straight edge'). So, something 'irregular' is literally 'not according to the rule'. In a military sense, it refers to forces that don't follow the 'rules' or structure of a conventional army.
Word relationships
- unconventional: Similar, but 'irregular' often implies a lack of formal structure or adherence to norms, especially in military contexts.
- unorthodox: Refers to methods or beliefs that deviate from what is traditional or accepted.
- unusual: More general term for something not common or ordinary.
- regular: Conforming to rules, standard, or part of a formal system.
- standard: Serving as a basis of comparison; typical.
Word family
- irregularity (noun): The state or quality of being irregular.
- irregularly (adverb): In an irregular manner.
Collocations
- irregular forces
- irregular troops
- irregular pattern
- irregular heartbeat
Example sentences
- "The government faced an army of irregular fighters who were poorly equipped but highly motivated." Describing military forces.
- "His attendance at meetings was highly irregular, making it difficult to rely on him for consistent contributions." Referring to patterns.
- "English verbs like 'go' and 'be' are considered irregular because their past tense forms don't follow the standard -ed rule." In a grammatical context.
Memory hook
Think of 'IR-REGULAR' as 'IR-responsible' and 'not REGULAR' – not following the rules or standard pattern. Not by the Rules
When not to use
While 'irregular' has general uses, in this context, avoid using it for things that are merely unusual or uncommon without implying a deviation from a formal system or rule.
Fun facts
- The concept of 'irregular verbs' in grammar also stems from this root, referring to verbs that don't follow the standard conjugation rules.
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