Meaning & use
nonlinear
Not arranged in a straight line, or not changing in direct proportion to something else.
See it in a sentence
The film tells its story in a nonlinear order, jumping between past and present.
Population growth often follows a nonlinear pattern rather than a steady, predictable rate.
A note on using this word
In math and science, nonlinear describes relationships where change in one variable does not produce a proportional change in another.
Words with a similar meaning
irregular
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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