Definition

Describing a material or device that does not follow Ohm's law, meaning its resistance changes with voltage or current.

Example

The nonohmic behavior of the diode allows it to conduct electricity in one direction only.

Conversation

Did you learn about nonohmic materials in class today?

Yeah, it’s interesting how they behave differently than ohmic materials.

I find it fascinating that their resistance can change with voltage.

Exactly! It really makes you think about how electricity works.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Nonohmic → It is formed from "non-" (meaning not) and "ohmic" (from the name of Georg Simon Ohm, a German physicist, relating to Ohm's law, which describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits). The word "nonohmic" refers to materials or devices that do not follow Ohm's law, meaning their resistance changes with voltage or current.

Memory Tip

Think of 'non-' meaning 'not' and 'ohmic' relating to Ohm's law — so nonohmic describes something that does not behave according to Ohm's law.

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