adj
noun
Freq #80321
Meanings
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1
adj
below the usual, expected, or average level
The test showed subnormal activity in one part of the system.
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2
noun
dated and offensive: a person formerly classified as having below-average intelligence
Modern clinical language avoids using subnormal as a label for a person.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed from sub-, 'below,' and normal. Its general adjective sense remains technical, but its former use as a noun for a person is now dated and offensive.