Meaning & use
non-degradable
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Not able to decay or break down naturally, especially in the environment.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'non-degradable plastic'; it is not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- non-degradable waste
- non-degradable plastic
Environmental groups are calling for a ban on non-degradable plastic bags.
These non-degradable materials can stay in the ocean for hundreds of years.
The company was criticized for using non-degradable packaging.
Common combinations
- non-degradable waste
- Non-degradable waste takes up a huge amount of space in landfills.
- non-degradable plastic
- Many countries have taxed non-degradable plastic to reduce pollution.
- non-degradable materials
- The factory switched from non-degradable materials to recyclable ones.
- non-degradable packaging
- Consumers are increasingly avoiding products with non-degradable packaging.
Synonyms and how they differ
- non-biodegradable
- Non-biodegradable is the more precise term for materials that cannot be broken down by living organisms; non-degradable is broader and means they do not break down at all.
Opposites
Word family
- degrade verb
- To break down or become worse in quality.
- degradation noun
- The process of something breaking down or getting worse.
Commonly confused: non-degradable or non-biodegradable?
non-degradable vs non-biodegradable
Non-biodegradable specifically means 'cannot be broken down by bacteria or other living things', while non-degradable is a broader term meaning 'does not break down at all'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'non-degradable' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Non-degradable' describes materials that do not break down naturally, so it fits plastics that persist in the environment. The other options misuse it for things that do decay or for feelings and sounds.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “non-degradable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.