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nonlife

American  
[non-lahyf] / nɒnˈlaɪf /

noun

  1. lack or absence of life.


Etymology

Origin of nonlife

First recorded in 1725–35; non- + life

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.

"The method captured not only the distinction between life and nonlife, but also degrees of preservation and alteration."

From Science Daily • May 12, 2026

The results seem weak overall, with both group revenue and net profit below forecasts, but the focus will be on a revenue miss in the nonlife business, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Moreover Cleland argues that it’s always possible to come up with an abstraction of life so coarse that it inadvertently includes some examples of nonlife.

From Scientific American • Apr. 6, 2023

Two officers were transported to a hospital where they also were treated for nonlife threatening injuries, police said.

From Washington Post • Oct. 23, 2021

They carry on their existence in the borderlands between life and nonlife.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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