non-prime

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparablemathematicstechnical

   In mathematics, not a prime number; able to be divided by a number other than 1 and itself.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: a non-prime number. It has no comparative forms.

   Patterns

   • a non-prime number
   • non-prime integer

   Six is a non-prime number because it can be divided by 2 and 3.

   The exercise asks students to list all non-prime numbers below twenty.

   Any even number greater than two is non-prime.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounbusinessfinance

   Not of the highest quality or rank; not first-class.

   Grammar: Used before a noun, often in business contexts: non-prime loans, non-prime borrowers.

   Patterns

   • non-prime loans
   • non-prime borrower
   • non-prime assets

   The bank set aside more money to cover non-prime loans.

   Non-prime borrowers usually pay higher interest rates.

   The fund invests in non-prime commercial property.

Common combinations

non-prime number

Fifteen is a non-prime number because 3 and 5 divide it.

non-prime borrower

A non-prime borrower may be offered a smaller loan.

non-prime loans

The crisis was partly caused by risky non-prime loans.

prime and non-prime

The teacher sorted the cards into prime and non-prime piles.

Synonyms and how they differ

composite

Composite is the standard mathematical term for a whole number greater than 1 that is not prime; non-prime is broader because it also includes 0 and 1.

subprime

Subprime is the usual word in finance for loans to borrowers with weaker credit; non-prime is a more neutral variant used in some reports.

Opposites

Word family

prime adjective

In mathematics, a prime number can only be divided by 1 and itself.

primality noun

The quality of being a prime number, used in number theory.

Commonly confused: non-prime or nonprimary?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “non-prime”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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