polydisperse

This term is primarily used in chemistry, physics, and materials science to describe a system where the components are not uniform in size. It is the direct antonym of monodisperse. When a sample is described as polydisperse, it implies a statistical distribution of properties, such as molecular weight or particle diameter, rather than a single, precise value.

In a laboratory or industrial context, the degree of polydispersity is often quantified by a polydispersity index (PDI). A high PDI indicates a broad range of sizes, whereas a PDI close to 1.0 indicates a highly uniform, monodisperse population.