nonlinear

adjective

non·​lin·​e·​ar ˌnän-ˈli-nē-ər How to pronounce nonlinear (audio)
: 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
nonlinearity noun
plural nonlinearities
nonlinearly adverb

Examples of nonlinear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Loureiro’s past work spanned theory and computational modeling of nonlinear plasma dynamics, where his group used analytical tools and state-of-the art simulations to study magnetic reconnection, turbulence and related instabilities. Alexandra Koch , Greg Wehner , Molly Line, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025 Health care today behaves as a Complex Adaptive System—dynamic, nonlinear and interdependent. Lawrence Rosenberg, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 Toward on-chip quantum systems Theoretical collaborators helped identify the best pattern for large nonlinear responses. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025 Cognitive shuffling works, usually within five to 15 minutes, by distracting the brain from stress and mimicking fragmented, nonlinear thought patterns that typically occur in the transition into sleep. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 20 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nonlinear

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonlinear was in 1884

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Cite this Entry

“Nonlinear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlinear. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

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