nondurable

adjective

non·​du·​ra·​ble ˌnän-ˈdu̇r-ə-bəl How to pronounce nondurable (audio)
also -ˈdyu̇r-
: able to exist for only a short time before deteriorating : not durable
nondurable products such as food, wine and personal care items.Suzanne S. Brown
nondurability noun
Scarves and some ornaments of clothing, such as flowers or lace, are often fragile and cannot be worn long. These things are purchased with their relative nondurability in mind. Cleo Fitzsimmons

Examples of nondurable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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That’s what distinguishes durable goods from nondurable goods like food, fuel, and other everyday necessities. Doug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 June 2026 Yet all the companies listed manufacture nondurable goods, which have short shelf lives. Sheldon H. Jacobson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025 For example, nondurable manufacturing that is labor-intensive, like toys, textiles and apparels, is certain to remain offshore. Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 23 July 2025 An upward revision to private inventory investment — specifically by nondurable goods manufacturers and companies in the information industry — offset those new weaker figures. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for nondurable

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nondurable was in 1858

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Cite this Entry

“Nondurable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nondurable. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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