anticonventionalist
|an-ti-con-ven-tion-al-ist|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.kənˈvɛn.ʃə.nəl.ɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.kənˈvɛn.ʃ(ə)n.əl.ɪst/
against conventions / opposes norms
Etymology
'anticonventionalist' originates from modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'conventionalist' (from 'convention' + suffix '-ist'), where 'convention' traces back to Latin 'conventio' meaning 'a coming together' or 'agreement'.
'convention' came into English via Old French 'convention' from Latin 'conventio'; 'conventional' and the agent suffix '-ist' produced 'conventionalist' in English, and the addition of the prefix 'anti-' produced the compound 'anticonventionalist' in later modern English usage (mainly 19th–20th century formation patterns).
Initially formed simply to denote opposition ('against conventions'), the term came to describe not only opposition but a personal stance or identity of nonconformity (from literal 'against conventions' to 'a person characterized by rejecting norms').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who opposes or rejects customary conventions, traditional norms, or established practices; a nonconformist who deliberately acts against conventional expectations.
As an anticonventionalist, he deliberately chose an unconventional career path and lifestyle.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/30 03:02