nonmetallic

American

[non-muh-tal-ik] / ˌnɒn məˈtæl ɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

of or relating to a nonmetal.
not of a metallic quality.

a nonmetallic appearance.

nonmetallic British

/ ˌnɒnmɪˈtælɪk /

adjective

not of metal
of, concerned with, or being a nonmetal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of nonmetallic

First recorded in 1805–15; non- + metallic

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.

"So, we're working on nonmetallic quantum dots because they're environmentally friendly and can be used in biological applications."

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2024

But production of wood products declined as did that of nonmetallic mineral products, fabricated metal products, and electrical equipment, appliances and components.

From Reuters • Sep. 15, 2023

So, Feresten is eagerly awaiting his next Porsche done up in a nonmetallic paint: a 718 Cayman GT4 RS in Oslo Blue.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2023

When a ferrite—a nonmetallic material with magnetic properties—is subject to a constant magnetic field, its molecules sustain tiny circulating currents that rotate with a handedness determined by the magnetic field orientation.

From Scientific American • Nov. 18, 2022

The robots started off, the regular thudding of their footsteps silent in the airlessness, for the nonmetallic fabric of the insosuits did not transmit sound.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

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