Squeeze-film bearings are used extensively to control vibration in rotor-bearing systems. No closed-form mathematical model exists to represent the stiffness and dam ping characteristics of a cavitated squeeze-film bearing when it is describing a non-circular, non-concentric orbit. In this paper nonlinear expressions are developed for the oil-film forces from which are derived two direct linear stiffness and two direct linear damping coefficients with all the cross stiffness and dam ping coefficients zero. The linearized stiffness coefficients and the damping coefficients are functions of the amplitude of the journal orbit. The dynamic lift-force which is fundamental to the successful operation of a cavitated squeeze-film bearing when designed without centralizing springs has not previously been predicted analytically. An expression is derived for this lift force. Its magnitude is shown to be dependent upon the amplitude of the steady-state orbit, that is, it is dependent upon the dynamic load. A numerical experiment is performed to assess the validity of the new model over a range of operating conditions.