nonuniform
|non-u-ni-form|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˈjuːnɪfɔrm/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˈjuːnɪfɔːm/
not uniform / not consistent
Etymology
'nonuniform' originates from Latin and Middle English elements: the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') combined with 'uniform', ultimately from Latin 'uniformis' where 'uni-' meant 'one' and 'form' (forma) meant 'shape or form'.
'uniform' came into English via Old French 'uniforme' from Latin 'uniformis' ('uni-' + 'formis'); the negative prefix 'non-' was then attached in English to form 'nonuniform' (also seen as 'non-uniform').
Initially it literally meant 'not of one form' (not one-shaped); over time it has been used generally to mean 'not consistent, even, or homogeneous' in both everyday and technical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not uniform; lacking consistency, regularity, or evenness across a surface, distribution, or set of values.
The paint was applied in a nonuniform layer, causing visible streaks.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
in mathematics, physics, or statistics: varying from place to place or not constant across a domain (opposite of uniform in distribution or density).
The material has a nonuniform density, so calculations must account for local variations.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/19 04:25