nonmetal

noun

non·​met·​al ˌnän-ˈme-tᵊl How to pronounce nonmetal (audio)
: a chemical element (such as boron, carbon, or nitrogen) that lacks the characteristics of a metal

Examples of nonmetal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Coal workers make up a declining share of American miners, about 55,000 people nationwide, compared with nearly 200,000 workers mining metal, nonmetal, stone, sand and gravel. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024 Federal officials are also pushing for these limits in other sectors, among metal and nonmetal operators and aiming to establish medical surveillance programs for periodic health exams at no cost to miners. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024 All other mines, collectively known as metal/nonmetal mines (MNM), have two years. Howard Berkes, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024 The rule, published in the Federal Register this month, cuts the permissible exposure limit for silica dust from 100 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour shift in coal, metal and nonmetal mines such as sand and gravel. Leah Willingham and Matthew Daly, Anchorage Daily News, 25 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonmetal was circa 1864

Dictionary Entries Near nonmetal

Cite this Entry

“Nonmetal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonmetal. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nonmetal

noun
non·​met·​al (ˈ)nän-ˈmet-ᵊl How to pronounce nonmetal (audio)
: an element (as carbon or nitrogen) that lacks the characteristics of a metal

Medical Definition

nonmetal

noun
non·​met·​al (ˈ)nän-ˈmet-ᵊl How to pronounce nonmetal (audio)
: a chemical element (as boron, carbon, or nitrogen) that lacks the characteristics of a metal and that is able to form anions, acidic oxides, acids, and stable compounds with hydrogen

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