single-use

American  

[sing-guhl-yoos] / ˈsɪŋ gəlˈyus /

adjective

1. intended for disposal after one use: single-use facial wipes.

   single-use plastic straws;

   single-use facial wipes.

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Etymology

Origin of single-use

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Over time, it’s become less of a single-use breakfast food and more of a catch-all solution.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

According to one state analysis, 2.9 million tons of single-use plastic and 171.4 billion single-use plastic components were sold, offered for sale or distributed in California in 2023.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Private Ukrainian arms companies have spearheaded the developement of drone interceptors -- cheap, light single-use drones that are designed to knock Russian unmanned aerial vehicles out of the sky.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

The long polymer chains in single-use plastics are extremely stable, and contaminants in waste streams can quickly deactivate traditional catalysts.

From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2026

But now I knew what the quarter was—a single-use artifact that gave my avatar an extra life.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline