non-biodegradable

/ˌnɒn ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːn ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/ (ame, ipa)

non-biodegradable — adjective

1. describing a material that bacteria and other tiny living things cannot break ap

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a material that bacteria and other tiny living things cannot break apart, so it stays in the soil, water, or air for a very long time and can harm the environment

例句

Most plastic bags are non-biodegradable and may stay in the ocean for hundreds of years.

attributive: non-biodegradable + noun (bags)

Sivan refused to buy bottled water because the bottles are non-biodegradable.

predicative: be + non-biodegradable

同義詞
  • non-decomposable

    technical near-synonym; rare outside scientific writing

  • non-compostable

    narrower — focuses on whether a material is suitable for composting bins, not on long-term environmental persistence

  • persistent

    scientific term for pollutants that stay in the environment; broader, used of chemicals and pesticides

反義詞
  • biodegradable

    direct opposite — breaks down through bacterial action

  • compostable

    stronger positive — breaks down quickly enough for composting

文法句型

non-biodegradable + noun

be + non-biodegradable

用法筆記

Almost always modifies physical materials (plastics, foams, chemicals, packaging, waste). Subject of 'be non-biodegradable' is usually an inanimate substance — people and animals are never described this way.

常見錯誤

❌This food is non-biodegradable in two days.
✅This food is not biodegradable, so it will take a long time to break down.
💡non-biodegradable means it essentially never breaks down naturally; don't pair it with a short time period.
❌Glass bottles are non-biodegradable but easy to recycle.
✅Glass bottles do not break down naturally, but they are easy to recycle.
💡strictly, glass is inert rather than non-biodegradable; reserve the word for things bacteria are expected to act on (plastics, organic-looking polymers).