Nonlinear generally refers to a situation that has a disproportionate cause and effect.[1] Description:

Nonlinear optics, in physics, examines the properties of light in media in which the polarization responds nonlinearly to the electric field.

Non-linear editing system, a film and video editing term

Nonlinearity, in mathematics, indicates systems represented systems whose behavior is not expressible as a linear function of its descriptors

Linearity (computer and video games), in computer and video games, implies that the order of gameplay events is determined

Non-linear writing, a writing system not consisting of lines

Nonlinear (arts), in the arts, is a word used to describe events portrayed in a non-chronological manner