Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

nonclassical

American  
[non-klas-i-kuhl] / nɒnˈklæs ɪ kəl /

adjective

  1. not classical or contrary to classical precepts.

  2. Physics. pertaining to a law, theory, or observation that cannot be expressed or understood in terms of Newtonian physics.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of nonclassical

First recorded in 1925–30; non- + classical


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

These observations confirmed that the experiment had successfully produced genuine quantum superpositions composed of truly nonclassical motional states.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 15, 2026

Her longtime collaborator and “Jaguar II” producer Dernst Emile II, known as D’Mile, was nominated for producer of the year, nonclassical, for the second year in a row.

From New York Times ● Nov. 10, 2023

And the engineers who worked on “Chloë and the Next 20th Century,” the latest album from onetime Seattleite and current Sub Pop star Father John Misty, are up for best engineered album, nonclassical.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 4, 2023

The music shifted to nonclassical tunes as the group danced to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” as colorful lights swept the room.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2022

No one who has heard Kendrick Lamar’s stunning album “Damn” could be at all surprised that it is the first nonclassical or jazz recording to win a Pulitzer Prize.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 17, 2018

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training