1
: failure to use
nonuse of available material
2
: the fact or condition of not being used
Examples of nonuse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Costs will vary for the Copilot Chat depending on what employees do with it, but at least organizations won’t end up paying for nonuse.
—
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
One particular vulnerability is the norms’ interconnectedness: if one norm, such as that against nuclear testing, is violated, then other norms, including nonuse and nonproliferation, could also become threatened.
—Doreen Horschig, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2024
For example, a nuclear deterrent against escalation might strengthen the norms of nonuse and nonproliferation because increased security would decrease the need for nonnuclear powers to develop independent nuclear capabilities.
—Doreen Horschig, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2024
Many of his recreational customers are either new to cannabis and learning about it, or returning after decades of nonuse.
—Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
New Delhi has been a consistent advocate of the nonuse of nuclear weapons, including smaller tactical nuclear weapons, and a strong believer in the nuclear taboo.
—Happymon Jacob, Foreign Affairs, 2 Aug. 2023
Eventually, the resident next door said the easement was terminated over nonuse.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Upon their death, the rights can be transferred to an executor or heir for a period of ten years and expire upon nonuse for commercial purposes after two years.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2024
But humanity has survived those weapons being in far worse and less stable hands, from the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to the Chinese tyrant Mao Zedong to the brutal Kim dynasty in North Korea, and there is no reason to believe the pattern of post-1945 nuclear nonuse will change.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2023
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.
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
One particular vulnerability is the norms’ interconnectedness: if one norm, such as that against nuclear testing, is violated, then other norms, including nonuse and nonproliferation, could also become threatened.
—Doreen Horschig, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2024
For example, a nuclear deterrent against escalation might strengthen the norms of nonuse and nonproliferation because increased security would decrease the need for nonnuclear powers to develop independent nuclear capabilities.
—Doreen Horschig, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2024
Many of his recreational customers are either new to cannabis and learning about it, or returning after decades of nonuse.
—Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
New Delhi has been a consistent advocate of the nonuse of nuclear weapons, including smaller tactical nuclear weapons, and a strong believer in the nuclear taboo.
—Happymon Jacob, Foreign Affairs, 2 Aug. 2023
Eventually, the resident next door said the easement was terminated over nonuse.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Upon their death, the rights can be transferred to an executor or heir for a period of ten years and expire upon nonuse for commercial purposes after two years.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2024
But humanity has survived those weapons being in far worse and less stable hands, from the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to the Chinese tyrant Mao Zedong to the brutal Kim dynasty in North Korea, and there is no reason to believe the pattern of post-1945 nuclear nonuse will change.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Nonuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonuse. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nonuse
noun
non·use
-ˈyüs 
1
: failure to use
nonuse of available material
2
: the fact or condition of not being used
Legal Definition
nonuse
noun
non·use
ˌnän-ˈyüs
1
: failure to use
nonuse of land
2
: the fact or condition of not being used
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share