non-biological
adjective
non-bi·o·log·i·cal
ˌnän-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 
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
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
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.
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
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 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share