Describing an activity, process, or person that does not have a specific, defined objective or target in mind. This can pertain to efforts lacking clear aims, strategies without a focused outcome, or individuals who appear to operate without a plan or overarching purpose. It often implies a lack of direction, a wandering approach, or a state of being unmotivated by a central goal. Actions and behaviors described as nongoal-oriented might appear aimless, exploratory, or even inefficient from a results-driven perspective, but are not necessarily negative, and can be exploratory.
Nongoal-oriented meaning with examples
- The afternoon spent browsing the art gallery was a nongoal-oriented activity, as the visitor didn't specifically set out to acquire a piece. They simply enjoyed the experience. There was no targeted research of particular artists. This approach allows for serendipitous discovery, however, which can be beneficial.
- His 'free writing' exercise at the beginning of his new novel was a nongoal-oriented creative endeavor, with no plot or character plans. He simply explored ideas to discover new directions. It's a method to tap into the subconscious. The outcome was unexpected, giving him a better story.
- The child's play with the random blocks was nongoal-oriented, as they were not building any structure or any type of build. It was more about experimenting with size, shape and color. This unstructured exploration is how a child learns by observing and doing. The process allows creativity.
- The committee meeting, with no specified agenda beyond brainstorming, felt entirely nongoal-oriented. They wanted to find some direction, but the result was unfocused with no direction. The members left without any clear outcomes, although the goal was to move forward.