If an amplifier becomes non-linear, the output signal would:

An ideal linear amplifier increases the amplitude of a signal without changing its original shape. When an amplifier becomes non-linear, it fails to output an exact, scaled-up replica of the input signal. This alteration in the signal's shape is what we call distortion. Non-linear operation can introduce unwanted harmonics and intermodulation products, making the audio sound garbled or causing the RF signal to splatter into adjacent frequencies. While severe component failure might cause output to drop to zero, or improper feedback might cause oscillations, simply operating in a non-linear region strictly results in signal distortion.