nonseeded

Nonseeded is a term used to describe participants, entries, or characteristics that have not been assigned a seed in a competition or ranking system. The concept is most commonly encountered in sports tournaments, although it can appear in other fields that use seeding or categorization.

In sports, a seed is a ranking assigned to players or teams based on past performance, current form, or prize money to influence the tournament bracket. Nonseeded entrants are those who do not receive a seed. They may be qualifiers, wild cards, or players with lower rankings. Nonseeded players typically face seeded opponents in early rounds, potentially increasing the likelihood of upsets, and some tournaments may re-seed after rounds or use random draws in the early stage. The presence of nonseeded players can affect draw strength, scheduling, and viewership interest.

In horticulture and plant breeding, the adjective nonseeded is less common; seedless is the standard term for fruits or plants that do not produce viable seeds. When used, nonseeded may describe plants propagated by cuttings or grafts rather than seeds, or varieties bred to produce sterile or nonfunctional seeds. It can also refer to traits that prevent seed formation.

Overall, nonseeded conveys absence of seeds or seed assignment within a given framework, and its precise implications depend on the specific domain and rules of the competition or cultivation system.