Anglais

atypical

gb/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl/ us/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl/
B2 Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adjective B2 property
1

not usual; not typical

not normal or usual

Schéma d’usage : an atypical [event/response/feature]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse atypical (unusual) with typical (usual), or use it where simply different is more natural.
Synonymes
unusual (More common and less formal than atypical.) | uncommon (Emphasizes rarity rather than difference from a norm.) | abnormal (Often suggests something is wrong or unhealthy; atypical can be more neutral.)
Antonymes
typical (Shows the usual, expected features.) | normal (Conforms to the usual standard or pattern.)
Collocations
atypical behavior |atypical response |atypical pattern |atypical case |atypical example |atypical situation |atypical features |atypical results |atypical weather |highly atypical
Thèmes
daily_life |describing_people |describing_things
Exemples
  • It was an atypical summer, with cool temperatures and frequent rain.
  • Her calm reaction was atypical for her in stressful situations.
  • The company reported atypical results after the one-time sale.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • This is atypical weather for March.
  • His answer was atypical.
adjective B2 property
2

unusual for a specific person/thing

not normal for that person or situation

Schéma d’usage : atypical for [someone/something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes omit 'for' (e.g., 'atypical him'); use 'atypical for him/her/them'.
Synonymes
out of character (Used especially for a person's behavior.) | uncharacteristic (More specifically about a person's usual behavior or qualities.)
Antonymes
in character (Typical of someone's usual behavior.) | characteristic (Typical or representative of someone or something.)
Collocations
atypical for someone |atypical for the season |atypical for the region |atypical for the market |atypical of someone |somewhat atypical |entirely atypical |atypical in this area
Thèmes
communication |describing_people
Exemples
  • That level of anger is atypical for him.
  • Heavy snow is atypical for this part of the country.
  • The drop in sales is atypical for this time of year.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • It is atypical for her to be late.
adjective technical C1 property
3

not following the usual medical pattern

in medicine: not showing the usual symptoms

Schéma d’usage : atypical [symptoms/presentation/case]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may assume atypical always means serious; in medical contexts it often means simply 'not the usual pattern'.
Synonymes
nonclassic (Used in medical writing to mean 'not the classic form'.) | unusual (Less technical; does not specifically imply deviation from a standard clinical pattern.)
Antonymes
classic (Shows the standard, well-known pattern of signs and symptoms.) | typical (Shows the usual pattern expected for the condition.)
Collocations
atypical symptoms |atypical presentation |atypical case |atypical infection |atypical pain |atypical rash |atypical findings |atypical course
Thèmes
health |medicine
Exemples
  • She came in with atypical symptoms that made diagnosis difficult.
  • Older adults can show an atypical presentation of the illness.
  • The doctor noted atypical chest pain and ordered more tests.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The patient had atypical symptoms.
adjective technical C1 property
4

not normal-looking in biology/pathology

in pathology: not looking normal

Schéma d’usage : atypical [cells/tissue]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may equate atypical with cancer; in reports it can indicate uncertainty and may require follow-up, not a definite diagnosis.
Synonymes
abnormal (Broader; does not always carry the same report-style implication as atypical.)
Antonymes
benign (Indicates non-cancerous; not a direct opposite, but contrasts with concerning findings.) | normal (Shows expected, healthy appearance.)
Collocations
atypical cells |atypical tissue |atypical changes |atypical features |atypical hyperplasia |atypical lesion
Thèmes
health |medicine |biology
Exemples
  • The lab report mentioned atypical cells and recommended repeat testing.
  • Microscopy showed atypical changes in the tissue sample.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The report said the cells were atypical.
adjective technical C1 property
5

not matching typical development/behavior

developing or behaving differently from most people

Schéma d’usage : atypical [development/behavior/learning]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may use atypical as a label for a person; in careful writing it often describes patterns (e.g., 'atypical development') rather than identity.
Synonymes
nontypical (Closer in meaning, but less common in general writing.) | divergent (Often used more neutrally and broadly, not necessarily tied to norms.)
Antonymes
typical (Follows the expected developmental or behavioral pattern.) | neurotypical (Common term for typical neurological development and functioning.)
Collocations
atypical development |atypical behavior |atypical learning profile |atypical social communication |atypical sensory responses
Thèmes
education |psychology |health
Exemples
  • The assessment noted atypical language development for his age.
  • Teachers were trained to recognize atypical learning patterns early.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The child showed atypical development.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
atypical
API
GB/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl/
US/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl/
Syllabes et accentuation
atyp - ic - al (3 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ic)
Formes du mot
Adjective
  • Base: atypical
Famille de mots
Core family
atypically adverb typical adjective B1 typically adverb B1
Related words
type noun A2 typify verb
Negative and opposite forms
untypical adjective
Advanced or less common
typicality noun atypicality noun
Expressions

atypical antipsychotic

1
/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl ˈæntˈɪpsˌaɪkˈɑtɪk/
fixed phrase technical

newer class of antipsychotic drug

a newer type of antipsychotic medicine

Exemples
  • The doctor suggested an atypical antipsychotic because of the side-effect profile.
  • Many patients today are treated with an atypical antipsychotic rather than older medications.

atypical chest pain

1
/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl t͡ʃˈɛst pˈeɪn/
fixed phrase technical

chest pain not in classic pattern

chest pain that is not the usual kind

Exemples
  • He went to the ER with atypical chest pain and shortness of breath.
  • Atypical chest pain can make diagnosis more challenging.

atypical depression

1
/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase technical

depression with specific symptom pattern

a type of depression with different symptoms

Exemples
  • Her psychiatrist discussed whether her symptoms fit atypical depression.
  • Some treatments are chosen differently for atypical depression than for other forms.

atypical hyperplasia

1
/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl hˌaɪpɚplˈeɪʒiə/
fixed phrase technical

abnormal increase of atypical cells

a medical finding of abnormal cell growth

Exemples
  • The biopsy showed atypical hyperplasia, so further evaluation was recommended.
  • She asked her doctor what atypical hyperplasia meant for her long-term risk.

atypical pneumonia

1
/eɪtˈɪpɪkəl numˈoʊnjə/
fixed phrase technical

pneumonia with nonclassic symptoms

a kind of pneumonia with unusual symptoms

Exemples
  • The clinician considered atypical pneumonia because the cough had lasted for weeks.
  • They prescribed antibiotics commonly used for atypical pneumonia.

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