nonlinear
adjective
non·lin·e·ar
ˌnän-ˈli-nē-ər 
: not linear
nonlinear thinking
a nonlinear narrative
… I was already interested in the nonlinear manner in which ideas and fashions travel through our culture …—
Lyall Watson
Lyall Watson
nonlinearly
adverb
Examples of nonlinear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This component enables low-threshold nonlinear optical spiking.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Linear focus is based on the rotation angle and spans from the minimum focus distance to infinity, while nonlinear focus is based on the rotation speed.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Our reactions to it are as chaotic and nonlinear as the winds themselves.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Plus there are topics in precalculus such as matrices, determinants, vectors and solving nonlinear systems of equations that students don’t need for Calculus I.
—Tammi Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
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Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Linear focus is based on the rotation angle and spans from the minimum focus distance to infinity, while nonlinear focus is based on the rotation speed.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Our reactions to it are as chaotic and nonlinear as the winds themselves.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Plus there are topics in precalculus such as matrices, determinants, vectors and solving nonlinear systems of equations that students don’t need for Calculus I.
—Tammi Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonlinear
Cite this Entry
“Nonlinear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlinear. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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