1. the quality or state of departing from accepted social, moral, or legal standards; behavior that is considered abnormal or unacceptable by society
Usage: often used in sociology and criminology; can be neutral or negative depending on context

Examples

• The sociologist studied deviancy in urban communities to understand crime patterns.
• What one culture considers deviancy may be perfectly acceptable in another.
• The school's zero-tolerance policy aimed to reduce deviancy among students.
• Researchers debate whether certain forms of deviancy are learned or innate.
• The report examined deviancy in financial markets during the economic crisis.
• Social norms define what counts as deviancy in any given society.