nonideal

[non-ahy-dee-uhl, -deel]

adjective

Physics.

1. (of a gas or solution) differing in behavior from that of an ideal gas or solution.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonideal¹

non- + ideal

Example Sentences

Austad has another theory: he thinks hungry wild animals will be likely to start eating nonideal food sources, such as fungus-covered grain, some of which might be toxic.

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Political theorists sometimes distinguish between “ideal theory” — an account of justice that tells you what you should do in a world where everyone was in compliance with the theory’s dictates — and “nonideal theory,” which starts closer to our social realities.

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“Earth’s atmosphere is a pretty nonideal lens so it produces very blurry images,” he says.

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She considered the “Dr. Phil” appearance a nonideal solution to what seemed like an otherwise intractable problem.

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"They can be easily tricked by seed dealers or mistakenly plant a nonideal variety, but must wait around six years to find out what precisely they planted."

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