nonchronological
|non-chron-o-log-i-cal|
🇺🇸
/nɑnˌkrɑnəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/
🇬🇧
/nɒnˌkrɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/
not in time order
Etymology
'nonchronological' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'chronological', where 'non-' meant 'not', 'chronos' (Greek) meant 'time', and Greek 'chronologikos' meant 'relating to the ordering of time'.
'chronological' changed from Greek 'chronologikos' into Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'chronologicus', then into Modern English as 'chronological'; the prefix 'non-' was later added in Modern English to create 'nonchronological'.
Initially the root referred to 'time' or 'ordering by time', but with the prefix addition the word came to mean 'not arranged by time' or 'out of time order'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not arranged in chronological order; presented out of time sequence.
The historian chose a nonchronological approach, grouping events by theme rather than by date.
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Adjective 2
(Of a narrative, film, or presentation) deliberately not following time order for stylistic or rhetorical effect.
The director used a nonchronological narrative to reveal the protagonist's backstory slowly.
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Last updated: 2025/12/12 23:45