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nonliving

American  
[nahn-liv-ing] / ˌnɑnˈlɪv ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. not living; not alive.


Vocabulary lists containing nonliving

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.

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It was once thought that the difference between living and nonliving things was absolute and miraculous, something that couldn’t be explained by science alone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Dr. Kiat explains that feathers grow over two to three weeks before detaching from the blood supply and becoming nonliving material.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 18, 2026

The recycling of nutrients from detritus, or nonliving organic matter, is a core process in all ecosystems.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2023

In the Great Andamanese view of nature, the foremost distinction was between tajio, the living, and eleo, the nonliving.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 14, 2023

Perhaps there is some special inorganic, nonliving catalyst in the soil that is able to fix atmospheric gases and convert them into organic molecules.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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