nonlinear.

1. Describing a relationship in which changes do not follow a constant straight-line pattern.

2. Presented without a simple consecutive or chronological order.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• nonlinear relationship
• nonlinear response

On the page

The response to additional pressure was nonlinear.

The researchers fitted a nonlinear model to the changing growth rate.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic. Forms: Normally non-gradable as a mathematical classification; more nonlinear can compare departures from a linear model. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.