nonnuclear

adjective

non·​nu·​cle·​ar ˌnän-ˈnü-klē-ər How to pronounce nonnuclear (audio)
-ˈnyü-,
nonstandard
-kyə-lər How to pronounce nonnuclear (audio)
1
: not nuclear: such as
a
: being a weapon whose destructive power is not derived from a nuclear reaction
b
: not operated by, using, or produced by nuclear energy
c
: not using or involving nuclear weapons
2
: not having nuclear weapons
a nonnuclear country

Examples of nonnuclear 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.
Jon Wolfsthal, senior director for arms control and nonproliferation on Obama’s National Security Council, says U.S. officials might wish that the billions spent on B61 modernization were instead invested in nonnuclear capabilities, American troop presence and support for Ukraine. Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2022 The prospect of South Korea, a nonnuclear state, acquiring its own weapons threatens to destabilize nuclear disarmament efforts and inflame already high tensions with Pyongyang. Dasl Yoon, WSJ, 12 Jan. 2023 Such a group could bring together nuclear and nonnuclear technical and health professionals for education and training, and help to meet the preparedness, coordination, collaboration and staffing requirements necessary to respond to a large-scale nuclear crisis. Cham Dallas, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2020 Australia notes that the Non-Proliferation Treaty does not bar a nonnuclear weapon state from acquiring naval nuclear propulsion technology. Ellen Nakashima and Christian Shepherd, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for nonnuclear 

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonnuclear was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near nonnuclear

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

nonnuclear

adjective
non·​nu·​cle·​ar (ˈ)nän-ˈn(y)ü-klē-ər How to pronounce nonnuclear (audio)
1
: not nuclear
nonnuclear weapons
2
: not having nuclear weapons
nonnuclear countries
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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