nonfigurative

The word 'nonfigurative' is a modern English compound formed by directly adding the Latin-derived negative prefix 'non-' to the existing adjective 'figurative.' The core concept stems from the Latin figura, meaning "shape" or "form," which evolved to describe art that represents recognizable forms from the natural world. By prefixing 'non-,' the term logically inverts this meaning to denote art that deliberately moves away from realistic representation. Thus, the term's construction transparently communicates its definition: that which is "not representational," aligning closely with the 20th-century artistic movement of abstraction.

Structure: non (not) + figurative (representational) - non: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "not." It functions as a negative or privative element. - figurative: An adjective of Latin origin (from figurativus), derived from figura (shape, form). It functions as the base word meaning "representing forms derived from real objects."