nonnuclear

adjective

non·​nu·​cle·​ar ˌnän-ˈnü-klē-ər 

-ˈnyü-,

nonstandard

-kyə-lər 

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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nonnuclear

adjective

non·​nu·​cle·​ar (ˈ)nän-ˈn(y)ü-klē-ər 

1

: not nuclear

nonnuclear weapons

2

: not having nuclear weapons

nonnuclear countries