Meaning & use
non-homogeneous
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nountechnicalspecialist
Not the same throughout; made of different parts or having varying qualities.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: a non-homogeneous mixture. It can also follow a linking verb: The sample is non-homogeneous.
Patterns
- non-homogeneous mixture
- non-homogeneous material
- be non-homogeneous
The rock sample is non-homogeneous, with different minerals in each layer.
A salad is a non-homogeneous mixture because you can see the separate pieces.
The data set was non-homogeneous, so the results varied widely.
adjectivebefore a nounmathematicsspecialist
In mathematics, describing an equation that does not equal zero or that contains terms not all of the same type.
Grammar: Used before nouns like 'equation' or 'system' in math contexts.
Patterns
- non-homogeneous equation
- non-homogeneous system
The teacher explained how to solve a non-homogeneous equation.
This non-homogeneous system has a different solution from the simple one.
We compared the homogeneous and non-homogeneous cases in class.
Common combinations
- non-homogeneous mixture
- Oil and water form a non-homogeneous mixture.
- non-homogeneous material
- The engineers tested a non-homogeneous material for strength.
- non-homogeneous equation
- She solved the non-homogeneous equation step by step.
- non-homogeneous population
- The survey covered a non-homogeneous population with many languages.
Synonyms and how they differ
- heterogeneous
- The more common scientific term for 'made of different parts'; non-homogeneous is often used in math and formal writing.
- uneven
- Everyday word meaning not smooth or not equal; non-homogeneous is more technical and about composition.
Opposites
Word family
- homogeneous adjective
- The same throughout; the opposite of non-homogeneous.
- homogeneity noun
- The state of being the same throughout.
- heterogeneous adjective
- Another word meaning made of different parts.
Commonly confused: non-homogeneous or homogeneous? non-homogeneous or homogenous?
non-homogeneous vs homogeneous
The opposite: homogeneous means the same throughout. Non-homogeneous adds non- to reverse it.
non-homogeneous vs homogenous
A spelling variant of homogeneous, but some people use it in biology to mean 'similar due to shared origin'; non-homogeneous is clearer for 'not uniform'.
Practice
In chemistry, a mixture that is not the same throughout, like cereal in milk, is called ______.
Choose one answer.
'Non-homogeneous' means not the same throughout. 'Homogeneous' means the opposite, 'pure' means only one substance, and 'transparent' is about light, not mixing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “non-homogeneous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.