disposable

1 of 2

adjective

dis·​pos·​able di-ˈspō-zə-bəl 

1

: subject to or available for disposal

specifically : remaining to an individual after deduction of taxes and necessary living expenses

disposable income

2

: designed to be used once or only a limited number of times and then thrown away

disposable diapers

Replace the disposable razor when the blade becomes dull.

disposability

di-ˌspō-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

disposable

2 of 2

noun

: something that is disposable

Examples of disposable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Why then does his company force workers to meet impossible quotas and treat them as disposable when they are injured? —Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

The two meet in a sea of disposable consumer goods that was supposed to make all that hard work and personal sacrifice worth it in the first place. —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

Fast-food chains, led by McDonald’s, adopted these disposables en masse, replacing reusable dishes and cutlery to save costs. —David Carlin, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Holmes likes the sharp stainless steel blades and the overall design which is a little less wasteful than most other disposables. —Marci Robin, Glamour, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing disposable

• disposable income

Kids Definition

disposable

adjective

dis·​pos·​able

dis-ˈpō-zə-bəl

: made to be thrown away after use

a disposable bottle

disposable diapers