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   irregular

   /ɪˈrɛɡjʊlə/

   adjective

   • 1. not even or balanced in shape or arrangement: "his strong, irregular features" Similar asymmetricalnon-uniformunevencrookedmisshapenlopsidedcontortedtwistedtwistingserpentinecurvingbrokenjaggedraggedcraggyserratedsawtoothsaw-edgednotchednickedindentedroughbumpyunevencoarsepittedruttedruttyholedholeylumpyknobbyknobblygnarledOpposite regularstraightregularsmooth
   • ▪ occurring at uneven or varying rates or intervals: "an irregular heartbeat" Similar inconsistentunsteadyunevenshakyfitfulpatchyvariablevaryingchangeablechangingever-changingon-and-offoff-and-oninconstanterratichaphazardunstableunsettledspasmodicsporadicepisodicintermittentoccasionalunpunctualwaveringfluctuatingaperiodicunsystematicunmethodicalcapriciousinformal:peakydesultorycasualOpposite regularsteady
   • ▪ (of a flower) having the petals differing in size and shape; zygomorphic.
   • 2. contrary to the rules or to that which is normal or established: "their involvement in irregular financial dealings" Similar against the rulescontrary to the rulesout of orderimproperincorrectillegitimateunscrupulousunethicalunprofessionalunofficialback-doorgreynot doneunacceptablewrongbeyond the paleunorthodoxunconventionaloff-centreabnormalinformal:not ona bit muchshadya bit thickoffnot cricketover the fenceOpposite above board
   • ▪ (of troops) not belonging to regular or established army units. Similar guerrillaundergroundunofficialparamilitaryresistancepartisanmercenaryOpposite regular
   • 3. (of a verb or other word) having inflections that do not conform to the usual rules.

   noun

   • 1. a member of an irregular military force.
   • 2. an imperfect piece of merchandise sold at a reduced price. North American

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘not conforming to rule (especially that of the Church’)): via Old French from medieval Latin irregularis, from in- ‘not’ + regularis (see regular).

   Scrabble Points: 10

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