nondurable

American  

[non-door-uh-buhl, -dyoor-] / nɒnˈdʊər ə bəl, -ˈdjʊər- /

adjective

1. not resistant to wear, decay, etc.; not sturdy.

   nondurable fabrics.

2. not lasting or enduring; consumable or perishable.

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noun

1. nondurables. goods that are used up quickly or purchased frequently, as food and apparel.

Other Word Forms

• nondurability
  noun
• nondurableness
  noun
• nondurably
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of nondurable

non- + durable

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Explanation

If something is nondurable, it's not built to last — like cheap batteries that get used up quickly and need to be replaced in no time. A paper towel is nondurable by design because it is meant to be used once and thrown away. Nondurable can also describe things that aren't well-made and break down easily, like a pair of shoes falling apart after just a week of casual wear. You can even use this adjective to describe intangible things that don't stand up to pressure or the test of time, like a friendship that crumbles under strain.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nondurable

Food supply chains, motor vehicles and parts, household furnishings, apparel, recreational goods and some nondurable goods are among the categories most likely to experience “meaningful spillovers” from higher diesel prices, they said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

A dangerously nondurable kind of concrete was used for a recently built skyscraper that is already crumbling from the inside.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Swonk estimates that nondurable goods wages accelerated at a 1.1% rate over the two months.

From Barron's ● Dec. 24, 2025

Production and shipments increased moderately, while both nondurable and nondurable manufacturing activity grew slightly this month, the survey said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2025

West Africans tended to build their cities from nondurable materials such as wood, mud, and grass.

From The Black Experience in America by Norman Coombs

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