irregular
irregular — adjective
1. An irregular word does not follow the standard patterns that most words of its t
An irregular word does not follow the standard patterns that most words of its type follow when changing form — for example, a verb that does not add '-ed' for the past tense, or a noun that does not add '-s' for the plural.
The verb 'go' is irregular because its past tense is 'went', not 'goed'.
irregular verb: past tense not formed with -ed
Children often struggle with irregular plurals like 'mice' and 'children'.
irregular plural: no -s ending
Tuan looked up the irregular forms of 'swim' in his grammar book.
Spanish has fewer irregular verbs than English, but they are still very common in speech.
The teacher asked the class to memorise a list of common irregular adjectives.
- non-standard
broader; applies to any deviation from a norm, not just grammar
- exceptional
more positive; suggests rarity rather than rule-breaking
- abnormal
stronger; implies something is wrong, not just different in form
文法句型
irregular + noun (verb/noun/adjective)
用法筆記
Only applies to the grammatical behaviour of words. Do not use this sense to describe situations, objects, or people — those belong to the BEHAVIOUR or SHAPE senses.
常見錯誤
2. not following the accepted or expected way of doing things — used to describe ac
not following the accepted or expected way of doing things — used to describe actions, procedures, or conduct that go against normal rules or customs, often in a way that seems wrong or suspicious.
The company's hiring process was highly irregular — they interviewed nobody in person.
highly irregular — common intensifier pattern
Adina found it irregular that the committee reached a decision without any discussion.
find it irregular + that-clause
A large cash payment with no receipt is considered irregular by most accountants.
Irregular procedures during the election raised concerns among international observers.
The judge warned the lawyer that her conduct in court was irregular and would not be allowed.
- unconventional
less negative; suggests creativity or independence
- improper
stronger moral judgment; implies something is wrong
- unorthodox
suggests deviation from established tradition or doctrine
- proper
following accepted standards
- conventional
following usual customs or practices
- expected
what most people would consider normal
文法句型
irregular + noun (behaviour/practice/procedure)
it is irregular + to-infinitive
find something + irregular
用法筆記
Often carries a negative or suspicious connotation — stronger than 'unusual'. Commonly found in formal, legal, or professional contexts. Does NOT apply to physical appearance (use SHAPE sense adj/3) or to grammar (use GRAMMAR sense adj/1).
常見錯誤
3. not having a uniform, even, or symmetrical shape; with parts that differ noticea
not having a uniform, even, or symmetrical shape; with parts that differ noticeably in size, form, or arrangement — for example, a surface that is not flat, a shape whose sides are not equal, or an object whose outline is uneven.
The garden wall was made of irregular stones of different sizes and colours.
irregular + stones — natural, non-uniform physical objects
Ryo noticed an irregular dark spot on his left arm and decided to see a doctor.
irregular spot — medical context for unusual marks on skin
The old table had an irregular surface that made writing difficult without a pad.
Small irregular pieces of broken glass lay scattered across the kitchen floor.
The diamond had an irregular cut, so it did not shine as brightly as the others.
- uneven
more common; focuses on lack of flatness or levelness
- asymmetrical
more precise; describes lack of mirror-image balance
- jagged
specific to sharp, rough edges or outlines
- even
flat and uniform in surface
- symmetrical
balanced in shape and form
- uniform
consistent in size, shape, or arrangement
文法句型
irregular + noun (shape/surface/pattern)
irregular in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common when describing natural objects (rocks, coastlines, leaves), handmade items, blemishes on skin, or flawed manufactured goods. Also used in biology and geography.
常見錯誤
4. occurring at uneven intervals in time or with unequal distances between points —
occurring at uneven intervals in time or with unequal distances between points — used for events, services, biological rhythms, or spatial arrangements that lack a steady, predictable pattern.
Élise made irregular visits to her hometown, sometimes twice a month and sometimes not for a whole year.
irregular visits — varying intervals between events
The bus service was irregular, with long waits between arrivals during the evening rush hour.
Rachid's breathing became irregular after he ran up the stairs too quickly.
Irregular rainfall has made it very difficult for local farmers to plan their planting season.
The doctor listened to Hari's chest and said his heartbeat sounded slightly irregular.
- sporadic
implies long gaps with rare, scattered occurrences
- intermittent
suggests alternating between happening and stopping
- uneven
broader; can describe quantity or distribution, not just timing
- regular
happening at steady, predictable intervals
- consistent
unchanging in pattern or frequency
- steady
continuous and even in rhythm or rate
文法句型
irregular + noun (intervals/visits/heartbeat)
at irregular + noun (intervals/times)
become + irregular
用法筆記
Very common in medical descriptions (heartbeat, breathing, pulse) and in discussions of services, weather, attendance, or any repeated event. Distinguish from the BOWEL sense (adj/5), which is specific to digestion.
常見錯誤
5. relating to a condition where bowel movements happen less often than is normal f
relating to a condition where bowel movements happen less often than is normal for a person — used as a polite or clinical way to describe constipation or irregular digestive patterns.
The patient told the nurse she had been irregular for several weeks and felt uncomfortable.
be + irregular — describing a health condition politely
Eating more fibre and drinking enough water can help if you become irregular.
Elderly people often become irregular and may need to adjust their diet or medication.
The doctor asked whether Felipe had felt irregular or had stomach pain in the past two weeks.
- constipated
more direct and common in everyday language
- blocked up
informal; used in casual conversation
- regular
having normal bowel movement frequency
文法句型
be + irregular
become + irregular
feel + irregular
用法筆記
A polite, slightly formal way to describe constipation. Used mainly in medical consultations or when speaking about digestive health with some delicacy. 'Constipated' is more direct and common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
6. belonging to a fighting group that operates outside a country's formal military
belonging to a fighting group that operates outside a country's formal military structure — used to describe soldiers, troops, or armed units that are not part of the regular national army.
Irregular troops controlled large areas of the countryside after the government lost control.
irregular troops — standard military collocation
The regular army struggled against irregular fighters who knew the terrain well.
contrast: regular army vs irregular fighters
Bilal's grandfather served as an irregular soldier during the war before the national army was formed.
International law sets rules for how irregular forces must be treated when captured during conflict.
- guerrilla
more specific; refers to fighters using small, surprise attacks
- paramilitary
organised like a military unit but not part of the official armed forces
- unofficial
broader; not specific to military contexts
文法句型
irregular + noun (forces/troops/soldiers/fighters)
用法筆記
Often used before a noun ('irregular forces', 'irregular troops'). The standalone noun form 'irregulars' refers to these fighters but is less common. 'Guerrilla' is a related but narrower term referring to a specific type of irregular fighter using hit-and-run tactics.
常見錯誤
irregular — noun
1. a fighter who belongs to an unofficial military group rather than a country's fo
a fighter who belongs to an unofficial military group rather than a country's formal armed forces — often used in the plural form 'irregulars' to refer to such fighters as a group.
The irregulars launched a surprise attack on the government convoy at dawn.
plural form 'the irregulars' — referring to the group
An estimated two thousand irregulars joined the resistance during the first month of the war.
The village was caught between the regular army and the irregulars in the surrounding hills.
Sana interviewed several former irregulars who had returned to civilian life after the peace agreement.
- guerrilla
more specific; implies hit-and-run tactics and small-unit operations
- freedom fighter
positive connotation; used when the speaker supports the cause
- partisan
historical; refers to resistance fighters in occupied territory
- regular soldier
a member of the official armed forces
- regular
shortened form referring to a regular-army soldier
文法句型
the + irregulars
a group of + irregulars
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural ('irregulars') when referring to a group of such fighters. The singular ('an irregular') is possible but considerably rarer. In modern usage, 'irregulars' often carries a neutral or factual tone in military reporting.