1. plural of deviancy; instances or acts of departing from an accepted standard, norm, or expected behavior
Usage: often used in sociology and psychology to describe behavior that violates social norms; can be neutral or negative depending on context
2. plural of deviancy; the quality or state of being deviant
Usage: abstract noun form; less common than the first sense

Examples

• The study examined various deviancies in social behavior across different cultures.
• Sociologists often classify deviancies as either primary or secondary.
• The school's discipline policy addressed multiple deviancies in student conduct.
• Research on deviancies has evolved significantly over the past few decades.
• Criminal deviancies are typically more severely punished than minor social deviancies.
• Understanding deviancies requires examining both individual and societal factors.