nonferrous
Americanadjective
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(of a metal) containing little or no iron.
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noting or pertaining to metals other than iron or steel.
adjective
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denoting any metal other than iron
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not containing iron
a nonferrous alloy
Etymology
Origin of nonferrous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sulfuric acid is the most consumed chemical on the planet, produced by smelting and refining nonferrous metals, such as copper and nickel, or by burning sulfur, a byproduct of oil-and-gas processing.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
Prices of most nonferrous metals fell following the data release.
From Reuters • Oct. 31, 2023
The recycler of ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal reported weak fiscal second-quarter earnings.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 5, 2023
They were made of wood, nonferrous metal and wire.
From Washington Post • Jan. 8, 2023
Pig iron, unwrought copper, and other nonferrous metals are Armenia's highest valued exports.
From The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
