I. ir ‧ reg ‧ u ‧ lar 1 /ɪˈreɡjələ, ɪˈreɡjʊlə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ regular , ↑ regularity ≠ ↑ irregularity , ↑ regularization ; verb : ↑ regularize ; adverb : ↑ regularly ≠ ↑ irregularly ; adjective : ↑ regular ≠ ↑ irregular ]
1 . having a shape, surface, pattern etc that is not even, smooth, or balanced SYN uneven OPP regular :
a jagged, irregular coastline
It has a highly irregular shape, covered in bumps and indentations.
2 . not happening at times that are an equal distance from each other OPP regular :
He’s receiving medication for an irregular heartbeat.
Beamish only returned to Britain at irregular intervals.
3 . not happening or done at the normal time for doing something OPP regular :
Funeral directors often work long, irregular hours.
4 . formal not obeying the usually accepted legal or moral rules:
It would be highly irregular (=extremely irregular) for a minister to accept payments of this kind.
5 . irregular verb/plural etc a verb or a form of a word that does not follow the usual pattern of grammar, such as the verb ‘catch’ or the plural ‘fish’ OPP regular
6 . American English a word meaning CONSTIPATE d (=unable to easily pass food waste from your body) , used in order to be polite
—irregularly adverb
—irregularity /ɪˌreɡjəˈlærəti, ɪˌreɡjʊˈlærəti/ noun [uncountable and countable] :
The club were found guilty of financial irregularities.
II. irregular 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
a soldier who is not an official member of a country’s army