nondurable

American  

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

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

Etymology

Origin of nondurable

non- + durable

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

Prices jumped for both durable and nondurable goods, reflecting how energy costs are working their way through supply chains.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

U.S. wholesale inventories rose at a slower pace in October, driven by nondurable goods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

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

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

The manufacturing sector contracted 0.6%, with both nondurable and durable goods contributing to the decrease for the third month in a row.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 31, 2023

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

From The Black Experience in America by Coombs, Norman