single-use
adjective
sin·gle-use
ˈsiŋ-gəl-ˈyüs 
variants
or less commonly single use
: intended or designed to be used once and then discarded
single-use plastics
single-use paper products
Surgical masks are single-use face coverings that are designed to act as a barrier to sneezes or other potential exchanges of germs.—
Anandi Barker
Anandi BarkerExamples of single-use in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Leftovers That Need Reheating Restaurants often provide single-use plastic containers for takeout orders and leftovers.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Jan. 2026
The single-use bathroom amenities in the rooms seem like a misstep, though.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
Wines come from reusable kegs rather than single-use glass bottles.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
The company prides itself on offering customizable temperatures, flavors, textures, and functional add-ins like vitamins, protein, caffeine, and soon, even collagen, all without any single-use plastic bottles.
—William Jones, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
California has not figured out how to reduce single-use plastic.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Employees were seen washing hands without soap and with single-use gloves still on.
—Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Blanca said most new office space in Miami is being developed in mixed-use projects, rather than single-use office tower.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Each year, billions of single-use plastic bottles end up in landfills or oceans.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
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Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Jan. 2026
The single-use bathroom amenities in the rooms seem like a misstep, though.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
Wines come from reusable kegs rather than single-use glass bottles.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
The company prides itself on offering customizable temperatures, flavors, textures, and functional add-ins like vitamins, protein, caffeine, and soon, even collagen, all without any single-use plastic bottles.
—William Jones, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
California has not figured out how to reduce single-use plastic.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Employees were seen washing hands without soap and with single-use gloves still on.
—Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Blanca said most new office space in Miami is being developed in mixed-use projects, rather than single-use office tower.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Each year, billions of single-use plastic bottles end up in landfills or oceans.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Single-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-use. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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