noncircular.

1. Not assuming, as part of the supporting reasons, the conclusion that an argument is supposed to establish.

2. Not shaped as a circle.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a noncircular argument
• noncircular justification

On the page

The explanation needs a noncircular reason for trusting the measurement.

Usage notes

Primary category: analysis / argumentation / evidence. Forms: normally non-gradable in these uses. Writing functions: evaluation, justification, geometric description. Commonness: uncommon. Logical and physical senses separated; hyphenation counts once.