Definition of "substandard" [substandard]

• Failing to meet a standard; below standard. (adjective)
• Linguistics Of, relating to, or indicating a pattern of linguistic usage that does not conform to that of the prestige group in a speech community or to that of the standard language. (adjective)
• Linguistics Not in accord with notions of good English; nonstandard. See Usage Note at nonstandard. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "County officials were forced to make a funding decision after Minor League Baseball Director Mark Scialabba sent a letter to Major League Baseball officials, outlining what he called substandard conditions at a stadium that continues to "deteriorate.""
• "However, Auckland engineer John Scarry, who has lobbied successive Governments about what he calls substandard practices in the industry, says the new regulatory system is superficial."
• "Workers and union organizers protesting what they call substandard wages and unfair labor practices at local public schools and universities by the international food-service giant"