non-conventional
Not the norm
Non-conventional means not following established standards, methods, or traditions.
The term applies to approaches, weapons, energy sources, or lifestyles that depart from the norm: non-conventional warfare, non-conventional oil extraction.
It overlaps with unconventional but tends toward more technical contexts—military strategy, energy production, medical treatments.
They pursued non-conventional therapies after standard treatments failed.
Contrary to accepted practice
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- fringeOutermost edge or margin
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
outsider · subversive · radical · divergent · nonconformist · anti-establishment · rebellious · dissident
Introducing radical new ideas
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- trailblazingBeing the first through
disruptive · forward-thinking · next-generation · novel · state-of-the-art · advanced · futuristic · pioneering
Innovative cultural pioneers
- experimentalTesting new methods
- artisticShowing imaginative skill
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- imaginativeAble to conceive new ideas
original · pioneering · surreal · abstract · conceptual · expressive · fanciful · whimsical
unorthodox
Contrary to accepted practice
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- fringeOutermost edge or margin
underground · outsider · subversive · radical · divergent · nonconformist · anti-establishment · rebellious · dissident · maverick
groundbreaking
Introducing radical new ideas
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
trailblazing · disruptive · forward-thinking · next-generation · novel · state-of-the-art · advanced · futuristic · pioneering · progressive
avant-garde
Innovative cultural pioneers
- experimentalTesting new methods
- artisticShowing imaginative skill
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
imaginative · original · pioneering · surreal · abstract · conceptual · expressive · fanciful · whimsical · inspired
quirky
Idiosyncratically unusual
unusual · outlandish · bizarre · idiosyncratic · anomalous · irregular · unique · deviant · atypical · aberrant
non-conventionalconventional
Following accepted practices
traditional · orthodox · standard · mainstream · customary
non-conventionalconventional
Following accepted practices
formulaic · predictable · stock · run-of-the-mill · derivative
conventional, convention, conventions, conventionally, unconventional, conventionality, unconventionality, convene, convened