nonprone

Nonprone is an adjective used to indicate the absence of the prone condition or posture. In general English, prone can describe lying face down or a tendency toward something; nonprone therefore can mean not in the prone posture or not susceptible to a particular condition. However, the term is not widely standardized, and its meaning is usually clarified by context.

In medical and ergonomic contexts, nonprone is most often encountered in discussions of body positions. Nonprone positioning refers to any posture that is not prone, such as lying on the back (supine), lying on the side (lateral decubitus), or seated upright. The prone position is specifically face-down; nonprone covers all other positions. The term can appear in clinical notes, equipment descriptions, or workstation design to indicate that a subject is not in the prone orientation.

Etymology: from non- + prone, with prone derived from Latin prōnus meaning "lying face downward" or "inclined." Usage notes: due to limited standardization, authors often prefer explicit descriptors like supine, lateral, or seated to avoid ambiguity.

See also: prone position; supine position; lateral decubitus; sitting/orthostatic posture; positional therapy.