nonstick

American

[non-stik] / ˈnɒnˌstɪk /

adjective

having or providing a finish designed to prevent food from sticking during cooking or baking.

a nonstick saucepan; a nonstick cooking spray.

nonstick British

/ ˈnɒnˈstɪk /

adjective

(of saucepans, frying pans, etc) coated with a substance such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that prevents food sticking to them

"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 nonstick

First recorded in 1955–60; non- + stick ²

Vocabulary lists containing nonstick

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

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

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.

See Examples For:

nonstick

Using a ¼ -cup measuring cup, scoop and pour the batter into a large nonstick pan over medium heat.

From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026

The unexpected material proved extremely slippery and heat resistant and later became widely used in nonstick cookware and industrial applications.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 14, 2026

My takeaway: While there’s no one-size-fits-all nonstick solution, there is something for everyone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

In her recipe for classic Gulab Jamun, Selvaraju starts with whole milk, ghee and milk powder, which are mixed and combined in a heated nonstick pan to create a thick paste.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2025

They will be like electricity and rainbows arid nonstick frying pans.

From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

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