The effect of the translational temperature anisotropyT∥≳T⊥on the rotational distributionyj, temperatureTr, and collision numberZrof N2in the Ar free jet is studied at the lower density levelP0d= 15 Torr‐mm using the ellipsoidal velocity distribution and the rotational transition cross section of the power law. The effect ofT∥≳T⊥is appreciable. The overpopulation of the higher rotational levelsjabove the Boltzmann distribution fitted to the distribution of the lowerj, i.e., the degree of nonequilibrium for the caseT∥≳T⊥=Ti(i≡isentropic) is slightly less pronounced than for the caseT∥=T⊥=Tibut more pronounced than for the caseT∥=T⊥≳Ti. The ratioyj/y0,Tr, and the terminalZrforT∥≳T⊥=Tiare larger than forT∥=T⊥=Tibut smaller than forT∥=T⊥≳Ti.