What is another word for misfit?
A
misfit is someone or something that doesn’t
fit in or
belong. A person who’s considered a
misfit is usually someone who’s different from everyone else, often in a specific situation, but sometimes in general. Some synonyms for
misfit, such as
oddball and
weirdo, can imply that not fitting in is a bad thing. The word
freak is even more negative. However, all of these words can also be used in an affectionate way, and some people even apply them to themselves as a way to take pride in being different. A term that’s usually positive is
individualist. (See the next section on whether
misfit is a negative word.) Calling someone a
misfit can imply that they are an
eccentric, but in a group of eccentrics, the “normal” one would be the
misfit. The word
outsider implies that a person does not belong because they are from “outside” the group in some way. The term
odd man out can mean the same thing (despite its use of
man, it’s often used regardless of gender). The word
misfit can also be applied to things. A more neutral synonym sometimes used in the context of things that don’t fit in is
outlier.
Misfit is sometimes specifically used to refer to a piece of clothing that’s
ill-fitting—one that doesn’t fit.
Is misfit a negative word?
Misfit is most commonly used in a negative way—calling someone a misfit highlights the ways they’re different from others, often as if it’s a bad thing. Still, like some of its synonyms, misfit can be used positively as a way of saying that being different is a good thing. For example, people might refer to themselves as misfits to highlight their individuality, or you might refer to your group of friends as a band of misfits as a way of celebrating how different and interesting you all are. Applying the word misfit to yourself or others can also be positive when everyone else around is the same in a way that’s considered bad. In other words, being a misfit is a good thing when “fitting in” means not being a good person.
