nonuniformity
|non-u-ni-for-mi-ty|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˌjuːnəˈfɔrmɪti/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˌjuːnɪˈfɔːməti/
lack of uniformity
Etymology
'nonuniformity' originates from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non') combined with 'uniformity' (from Latin 'uniformitas'), where 'non' meant 'not', 'uni-' meant 'one', and 'formis' meant 'form or shape'.
'uniformitas' in Latin developed into Old French/Medieval Latin forms of 'uniformity' and entered Middle/Modern English as 'uniformity'; the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non') was later attached in Modern English to form 'nonuniformity'.
Initially the elements meant 'not' + 'one form'; over time the combined word came to mean 'the lack of uniformity' or 'irregularity', a usage that has remained stable in technical and general contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or quality of not being uniform; irregularity or lack of consistency in appearance, composition, or behavior.
The nonuniformity of the paint caused noticeable streaks on the wall.
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Noun 2
in mathematics or statistics, a lack of uniform distribution or regularity in values across a set or domain (e.g., a nonuniform distribution).
The nonuniformity in the data suggested that a single model might not fit all subsets.
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Noun 3
in materials science or engineering, local differences in density, composition, or structure that cause performance variations.
Manufacturers tested for nonuniformity in the metal to prevent weak spots.
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Last updated: 2025/09/19 13:44