nonconformist
/ˌnɒnkənˈfɔːmɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːnkənˈfɔːrmɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌnän-kən-ˈfȯr-mist/ (ame, mw) · /ˌnɒn.kənˈfɔː.mɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːn.kənˈfɔːr.mɪst/ (ame, ipa)
nonconformist — noun
- nonconformistsingular
- nonconformistsplural
1. a person who chooses to live, think, or behave in ways that most people in a soc
a person who chooses to live, think, or behave in ways that most people in a society do not expect or accept, often because they value personal freedom over fitting in
Amara has always been a nonconformist, refusing to follow fashion trends and wearing whatever she likes.
nonconformist + refusing to follow [social norm]
Mr Hassan was a nonconformist who kept bees on his roof and painted his door purple.
In a profession where everyone wears dark suits, Diego stood out as a nonconformist in bright, patterned shirts.
Many nonconformists in the 1960s rejected traditional career paths and chose to live in shared communities.
- maverick
more specific — someone who acts independently within a group, often with admiration
- dissenter
focuses on open disagreement with an established view, especially in politics or religion
- free spirit
emphasises personal freedom and a relaxed attitude toward rules rather than active rebellion
- individualist
stresses the belief in personal independence over group thinking, often neutral in tone
- conformist
someone who follows accepted social standards without question
- traditionalist
someone who strongly supports established customs and resists change
文法句型
nonconformist + (often followed by a relative clause describing their difference)
常見錯誤
2. a person belonging to any of several Protestant denominations in England or Wale
a person belonging to any of several Protestant denominations in England or Wales that are separate from the established Church of England — for example, Baptists, Methodists, or Presbyterians
Oliver's great-grandfather was a Nonconformist who attended a Baptist chapel every Sunday.
Nonconformist (capitalised, religious sense) + specific denomination
In nineteenth-century England, many Nonconformists were barred from studying at Oxford or Cambridge.
The village had a strong Nonconformist tradition, with a Methodist chapel serving the local community for over two hundred years.
Grace's family were Nonconformists who traced their religious roots back to the Puritan movement of the seventeenth century.
- dissenter
broader term — can refer to anyone who disagrees with an established church, not limited to British Protestant groups
- separatist
stronger term — emphasises the act of breaking away entirely from the main church body
- Anglican
a member of the Church of England, which Nonconformists deliberately do not belong to
文法句型
Nonconformist + (countable, often capitalised in religious context)
用法筆記
In British historical contexts, this sense is usually capitalised (Nonconformist) to distinguish it from the general meaning. The lowercase form (nonconformist) normally refers to the 'independent thinker' sense.
常見錯誤
nonconformist — adjective
- nonconformistpositive
- more nonconformistcomparative
- most nonconformistsuperlative
1. describing a person whose way of living, thinking, or behaving is noticeably dif
describing a person whose way of living, thinking, or behaving is noticeably different from what most people in society would consider normal or acceptable
Sophie's nonconformist teaching style surprised the headteacher at first — she took her students outside for every lesson.
nonconformist + [noun: teaching style / approach / methods]
Kofi's nonconformist hairstyle and mismatched socks made him instantly recognisable around the school.
The elderly painter was famous for her nonconformist lifestyle, living alone on a narrowboat and working only by candlelight.
Nora held nonconformist views about work-life balance that made her unpopular with upper management but adored by her team.
- unconventional
softer and more neutral — simply means not traditional, without the implication of deliberate rebellion
- unorthodox
stronger — suggests going against accepted methods or beliefs, especially in a professional or academic setting
- dissenting
focuses on verbal or public disagreement rather than lifestyle differences
- conventional
following accepted standards and social norms
- orthodox
strictly following established beliefs, especially in religion or academia
文法句型
nonconformist + noun (attributive)
be + nonconformist (predicative)
用法筆記
Common before nouns describing personal style, opinions, or ways of doing things (e.g. lifestyle, approach, views, clothing). Less common as a predicative — 'His ideas are nonconformist' sounds slightly formal.
常見錯誤
2. relating to Nonconformists or to the Protestant churches in Britain that operate
relating to Nonconformists or to the Protestant churches in Britain that operate outside the established Church of England, including their beliefs, buildings, and practices
The local Nonconformist chapel held a community bake sale every Saturday to raise money for a new roof.
Nonconformist chapel / church / meeting house
Dr Chen published a paper on the influence of Nonconformist ministers during the English Industrial Revolution.
The wedding took place in a simple Nonconformist chapel with wooden benches and no altar.
Nonconformist congregations grew rapidly in Wales during the eighteenth century, especially in mining communities.
- dissenting
broader — can describe any religious group that disagrees with a state church, not limited to British Protestant history
- free church
modern term for the same groups, emphasising their independence from state control
- Anglican
relating to the Church of England, which is the established church that Nonconformist groups separated from
- established
relating to a state-supported church, the opposite of the self-governing Nonconformist model
文法句型
Nonconformist + noun (church, chapel, minister, tradition)
用法筆記
Typically used before nouns referring to religious institutions, leaders, or historical developments. In modern British usage, capitalised when it clearly refers to the historic Protestant groups; lowercase is increasingly common in general historical writing.