People who behave in ways that are very different from what society considers normal or acceptable.
From Latin 'deviare' meaning 'to turn aside from a path,' from 'de-' (away) and 'via' (way or path). The term evolved to describe people who stray from social norms rather than literally straying from roads.
What counts as 'deviant' changes dramatically over time—left-handedness, wearing pants as a woman, and listening to rock music were all once considered deviant! The word shows how society's rules are constantly shifting.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.