nonlinear

adjective

non·​lin·​e·​ar ˌnän-ˈli-nē-ər How to pronounce nonlinear (audio)
: not linear
nonlinear thinking
a nonlinear narrative
… I was already interested in the nonlinear manner in which ideas and fashions travel through our culture …Lyall Watson
nonlinearity noun
plural nonlinearities
nonlinearly adverb

Examples of nonlinear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Mind maps themselves encourage rapid brainstorming, nonlinear thinking and collaborative refinement. Anusha Nerella, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025 The platform has been carving out a nonlinear lane for itself, and along the way, Kanabar and her team have remained focused on building an ecosystem of shoppable designers from the continent, including Andrea Iyamah, Rendoll, and Onalaja. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 July 2025 Similarly to her contemporaries, Simpson, who directed, wrote and edited No Sleep Till, tells a nonlinear story with poetic undertones. Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025 That story piqued the interest of half a dozen luminaries in the literary, visual and performing arts, including the author Lauren Groff, the painter Julie Mehretu and the director Peter Sellars, who joined forces to produce a nonlinear, highly metaphorical adaptation. Laura Van Straaten, New York Times, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for nonlinear

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonlinear was in 1884

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Cite this Entry

“Nonlinear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlinear. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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