non-biological

adjective

non-bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌnän-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce non-biological (audio)
variants or nonbiological
: not biological: such as
a
: not relating to, marked by, or derived from life and living processes
non-biological reactions
non-biological materials
nonbiological methane
b
: not connected by genetic relationship
a non-biological parent
non-biologically adverb
or nonbiologically
non-biologically produced materials

Examples of non-biological in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of course, organics don't mean that life is there, because organics can have a biological origin or a non-biological origin. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 Overall, 120 objects containing human remains were removed from view, along with an additional 71 non-biological objects that were in the same displays, the museum told CNN at the time. Jack Guy, CNN, 9 Oct. 2024 Still, non-biological processes could also have formed the rock's unique features. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024 In this case, the detection of these spots on a Martian rock represents just the first of seven steps—for example, scientists must still rule out non-biological possibility and identify other signals to have confidence in off-world life. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 25 July 2024 Rather than asking if each new AI system is finally the one that has conscious experience, focusing on the more fundamental question of whether any type of non-biological feeling mind is possible could provide much broader insights. Oshan Jarow, Vox, 15 June 2024 Geron was identified as the child’s non-biological grandmother. Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024 Woodall played Jack in The White Lotus season two, a British boy who flirted with Haley Lu Richardson’s Portia and assisted his non-biological uncle Quentin (Tom Hollander) in a plan to murder Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2024 Identifying a signal as a sign of life is tricky, though, because both gases can also be accounted for by non-biological processes. Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of non-biological was in 1861

Dictionary Entries Near non-biological

Cite this Entry

“Non-biological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-biological. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

non-biological

adjective
non-bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal
-ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants or nonbiological
: not biological
non-biological parents
non-biological factors
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!