Nondirect

Nondirect is an adjective meaning not direct; indirect or mediated in relation to effect, access, or communication. It is formed from non- plus direct and is used to describe processes, routes, or statements that involve intermediaries or detours rather than a straight path.

In contemporary usage, nondirect is less common than indirect or non-direct, and it tends to appear in older texts, specialized registers, or stylistic contexts that favor compact compounds. The hyphenated form non-direct is more widely seen in current prose, while nondirect may appear in titles or technical writing where a closed compound is preferred.

Common contexts for the term include describing physical or logistical routes that do not take the shortest or most direct line, forms of communication or influence that are mediated rather than firsthand, and reasoning or evidence that is indirect rather than directly observed. In some domains, nondirect is used descriptively to emphasize mediation or intervening steps; in others, indirect remains the preferred term.

In counseling or education, the more established term is nondirective, referring to approaches that avoid direct instruction or coercive guidance. In computing, direct and indirect addressing are standard terms, and nondirect addressing is rare, usually found only in historical or niche discussions.

Etymology traces the word to non- + direct, with usage dating from the 19th century. Today, nondirect is a relatively uncommon variant of indirect or non-direct, best avoided in formal writing in favor of clearer terms.