substandard
adjective
sub·stan·dard
ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd 
: deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: such as
a
: of a quality lower than that prescribed by law
substandard housing
b
: conforming to a pattern of linguistic usage existing within a speech community but not that of the prestige group in that community
c
: constituting a greater than normal risk to an insurer
Examples of substandard in a Sentence
a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation
Recent Examples on the Web
Falsified or substandard medicines currently account for about 10% of drugs in low- and middle-income countries, the WHO estimates.
—
Sally C. Pipes, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
It is estimated that 162,000 families in Los Angeles, including 50,000 veterans, are living in tents, garages, vehicles and other substandard accommodations, according to a 2021 report by UCLA’s Luskin Center for History and Policy.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
The most recent league event was a 2019 preseason exhibition between the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg, played on an 80-yard field over safety concerns with IG Field’s substandard artificial turf.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Yet, as Gleison Bremer recovers from his serious injury, Kelly is far from the only substandard defender in black and white.
—Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
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Sally C. Pipes, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
It is estimated that 162,000 families in Los Angeles, including 50,000 veterans, are living in tents, garages, vehicles and other substandard accommodations, according to a 2021 report by UCLA’s Luskin Center for History and Policy.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
The most recent league event was a 2019 preseason exhibition between the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg, played on an 80-yard field over safety concerns with IG Field’s substandard artificial turf.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Yet, as Gleison Bremer recovers from his serious injury, Kelly is far from the only substandard defender in black and white.
—Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
Cite this Entry
“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substandard. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
substandard
adjective
sub·stan·dard
ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd
ˈsəb-
1
: varying from or falling short of a standard or norm
substandard housing
2
: following a pattern of linguistic usage that is not considered standard
substandard English
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