Meaning & use
non-directional
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
not sending, receiving, or aiming signals in one particular direction; working in all directions equally
Grammar: Used before a noun: a non-directional signal. It has no comparative form.
Patterns
- a non-directional signal
- non-directional lighting
- non-directional sound
The radio station uses a non-directional antenna, so it broadcasts equally in all directions.
The studio chose non-directional lighting to create a soft, even glow across the set.
A non-directional microphone picks up voices from every part of the room.
adjectivenot comparablebusinessfinance
not favoring or following one particular trend, goal, or course of action
Grammar: Used mainly in business or finance before a noun: a non-directional strategy.
Patterns
- a non-directional strategy
- non-directional trading
- non-directional approach
Their non-directional trading strategy aims to profit whether the market rises or falls.
The committee took a non-directional approach, keeping all options open for now.
Common combinations
- non-directional antenna
- A non-directional antenna sends and receives signals equally in all directions.
- non-directional lighting
- The photographer used non-directional lighting to avoid harsh shadows.
- non-directional strategy
- The fund manager described her approach as a non-directional strategy.
- non-directional microphone
- A non-directional microphone captures sound from the whole room.
Synonyms and how they differ
- omnidirectional
- Omnidirectional is the more technical term for equipment that works in all directions; non-directional is plainer and also used in business contexts.
- undirected
- Undirected suggests a lack of aim or purpose, while non-directional simply means not limited to one direction.
Opposites
Word family
- direction noun
- The way something moves, points, or is aimed.
- directional adjective
- Aimed or working in one particular direction.
- directionless adjective
- Having no clear aim or purpose.
Commonly confused: non-directional or directionless?
non-directional vs directionless
Directionless means lacking purpose or guidance, which is a negative judgment; non-directional is a neutral technical word meaning not limited to one direction.
Practice
The radio station replaced its old tower with a ______ antenna that broadcasts equally in every direction.
Choose one answer.
Non-directional means working in all directions equally, which fits the sentence. Directional means aimed in one direction, the opposite of what is needed. Directionless means lacking purpose, and directed means aimed at a target, neither of which fits an antenna that broadcasts everywhere.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “non-directional”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.