substandard

adjective

sub·​stan·​dard ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd How to pronounce substandard (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The administration temporarily halted migrant transfers to the base after media reports alleged substandard conditions and the ACLU and other organizations sued, alleging detainees had no access to attorneys, family or due process. Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025 During the 1980s and '90s, the U.S. government detained thousands of Haitian asylum seekers indefinitely at Guantánamo in substandard conditions. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 The qualifications of substandard housing shifted with the passing of Senate Bill 1465 in 2024. Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2025 During the hearing, representatives of the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau and Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon testified about the allegedly substandard maintenance of Mount Tamalpais Cemetery. Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for substandard

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of substandard was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substandard. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

substandard

adjective
sub·​stan·​dard ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd How to pronounce substandard (audio)
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

Legal Definition

substandard

adjective
sub·​stan·​dard
: deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: as
a
: of a quality lower than that prescribed by law
b
: constituting a greater than normal risk to an insurer

More from Merriam-Webster on substandard

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