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-

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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.

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

Crumble the tofu before frying it in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat with oil.

From Salon ● May 24, 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

Few tools are considered as essential to the home cook’s arsenal as a trusty nonstick pan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

She put her foot on the first dark nonstick strip and then the next one and the next.

From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo

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