> Are flat and non-flat geometry a legit terminology in machine learning > and statistics? These are terminologies from Mathematics, they are valid in any field. > What is the mathematical definition? In mathematics, a (Riemannian) [manifold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifold) is said to be [flat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_manifold) if its [curvature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curvature) is everywhere zero; otherwise non-flat. This is very different than the definition of [flat in geometry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_(geometry)) that you have referenced. According to that definition, only points, lines, and hyper-planes are flat. For example, set $\left\{(t,t):t\in(-1,1)\right\}$ is a 1D flat manifold in ${\Bbb R}^2$, set $\left\{(t,t^2):t\in(-1,1)\right\}$ is a 1D non-flat (positively curved) manifold in ${\Bbb R}^2$, and a hypersphere is an $n$D non-flat (positively curved) manifold in ${\Bbb R}^{n+1}$. Accordingly, a cluster with a (non) flat shape corresponds to a (non) flat manifold. In my opinion, the notion of (non) convex set is more suitable, which is also mentioned more in the body of [referenced document](https://scikit-learn.org/dev/modules/clustering.html#clustering). The notion of (non) flat manifold is only mentioned in a table named `A comparison of the clustering algorithms in scikit-learn` which is better to be changed.