nonliving

American

[nahn-liv-ing] / ˌnɑnˈlɪv ɪŋ /

adjective

not living; not alive.

Vocabulary lists containing nonliving

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: non-

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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.

Again and again, biological materials displayed distinct organizational patterns that separated them from nonliving chemistry.

From Science Daily • May 12, 2026

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

They held to a now discredited theory that would have required significant amounts of natural hydrogen to produce oil from nonliving processes rather than from ancient life.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 15, 2023

At the time, the scientific notion of "spontaneous generation" held that life can arise from nonliving matter, which was believed to be the culprit behind wine spoiling.

From Salon • Oct. 19, 2022

May we suggest this student pursue a career with nonliving things in place of a career in poultry.

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023