nonrenewable

adjective

non·​re·​new·​able ˌnän-ri-ˈnü-ə-bəl How to pronounce nonrenewable (audio)
-ˈnyü-
: not able to be renewed : not renewable
a nonrenewable service contract
especially : unable to be replaced or replenished once used
… most of the natural resources that we exploit for energy and minerals are nonrenewable. Once they have been used up, they cannot be replenished—at least in our lifetime. Sheldon Judson and Marvin E. Kauffman
A nonrenewable resource is a resource that cannot be replaced after it is used. Minerals and many fuels are nonrenewable resources. Dr. Timothy Cooney et al.
Physical and economic shortages of nonrenewable resources require research programs aimed at developing renewable replacement resources. Predicasts Technology Update
Lubbock is the principal city of the semi-arid southern High Plains of Texas, where the extensive, nonrenewable Ogallala aquifer is the major water resource. AAG Abstracts

Examples of nonrenewable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But, but — any resource saved is a plus; and the problems are often on the user end, so being conscientious actually matters; and for me, at least, the extra second to choose a different bin is a constant reminder to use nonrenewable resources sparingly. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024 Fossils are considered a nonrenewable scientific resource. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 But climate experts and advocates say the plan, which promotes some fossil fuel power generation, merely masks South Korea’s dependence on nonrenewable energy sources. Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2023 The sale of the government’s stockpile of the nonrenewable element could exacerbate an existing supply shortage, Saha said. Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 25 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nonrenewable 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonrenewable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonrenewable was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near nonrenewable

Cite this Entry

“Nonrenewable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonrenewable. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

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