disposable

American  

[dih-spoh-zuh-buhl] / dɪˈspoʊ zə bəl /

adjective

1. designed for or capable of being thrown away after being used or used up.

   disposable plastic spoons; a disposable cigarette lighter.

2. free for use; available.

   Every disposable vehicle was sent.

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noun

• disposables
  plural

1. something disposable after a single use, as a paper cup, plate, or napkin.

disposable British  

/ dɪˈspəʊzəbəl /

adjective

1. designed for disposal after use

   disposable cups

2. available for use if needed

   disposable assets

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noun

1. something, such as a baby's nappy, that is designed for disposal

2. (plural) short for disposable goods

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• disposability
  noun
• disposableness
  noun
• nondisposable
  adjective
• disposably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• disposables
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of disposable

First recorded in 1645–55; dispose + -able

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Explanation

Something disposable is not meant to last. It's OK to throw it out after you use it. Disposable diapers are a good example of what the word disposable is all about: after the diaper is used, it goes straight into the trash, and you can't use it again. Something disposable is replaceable. If a boss decides an employee is disposable, that means the employee will probably be fired. As you can imagine, people don't like to feel disposable. Lots of people don't like products that are disposable either. Disposing of things just creates more garbage, which is bad for the environment. Usually, things that are recyclable are better.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disposable disposables

But as in a two-for-one, if you can be sold on the myth that AI is superhuman, it travels along with the idea that regular humans are disposable.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

So consumers might have a pretty good view of the economy—if it weren’t for the stubborn inflation squeezing their disposable incomes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Natalie said the popularity of disposable nappies might be a reason why parents often wait longer to potty train.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

His sudden rise had made him "an easily disposable product," he added.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

Ashoke goes out to the corner store, and a box of disposable diapers replaces the framed black-and-white pictures of Ashima’s family on the dressing table.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

His philosophy is to use features like color, weight, and shape to communicate containers’ reusability, making it less plausible that people will confuse them for disposables.

From Salon ● May 2, 2024

"Yes we need movement on disposables, but we don't need it in four years' time. We need it now," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2023

But the UK Vaping Industry Association says disposables help smokers quit, and can be recycled.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2023

A wholesaler will import a shipping container of disposables and then sell the contents to smaller distributors, who then sell the products to local independent stores out of vans or trucks.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 26, 2023

Today's cameras-from the disposables to the fully automated-encapsulate everything we have to know to operate them.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin

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Related Words

• superfluous
• unimportant

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