Nonfolded

Nonfolded is an adjective that describes something that has not been folded or has not taken on a folded form. In everyday language it can describe sheets, fabrics, or documents kept flat, or materials that are supplied in a single layer.

In biology, the term is used to describe molecules that do not have a defined three-dimensional structure. An unfolded polypeptide, denatured protein, or intrinsically disordered region may be described as nonfolded. Nonfolded states are typically higher in conformational entropy and may expose hydrophobic residues that are normally buried in a folded protein. The concept is related to, but not identical with, "unfolded" and "intrinsically disordered."

In manufacturing and printing, nonfolded refers to items delivered without folds, such as a nonfolded brochure or poster as opposed to a folded pamphlet. In textiles, nonfolded fabrics are flat and unpressed compared with folded materials.

Because "nonfolded" is context-dependent, it can be ambiguous; alternatives include "unfolded" for objects that have unfolded, "unfolded state" in biochemistry, or "intrinsically disordered" for proteins that do not adopt a fixed structure.