non-degradable

IPA/ˌnɒn.dɪˈɡreɪ.də.bəl/
IPA/ˌnɑːn.dɪˈɡreɪ.də.bəl/

non-degradable — adjective

1. Describes a material that does not naturally decompose or break down into simple

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Describes a material that does not naturally decompose or break down into simpler chemical substances, even after a long time in the natural environment.

Example

Plastic bags made from non-degradable materials can remain in landfills for hundreds of years.

attributive use: non-degradable materials / non-degradable packaging

The research team is testing new methods to break down non-degradable waste from the textile industry.

Common collocations
  • non-degradable plastic
  • non-degradable waste
  • non-degradable material
  • non-degradable packaging
  • non-degradable container
  • non-degradable chemical
Synonyms
  • non-biodegradable

    More common in everyday language; focuses on biological rather than purely chemical decomposition.

  • persistent

    Often used for chemical pollutants that remain in the environment for a long time; less specific than non-degradable.

  • indestructible

    Stronger and more dramatic; implies something that cannot be destroyed at all, which is rarely literally true.

Antonyms
  • biodegradable

    The direct opposite; describes materials that break down naturally through the action of bacteria or other living organisms.

  • degradable

    The straightforward opposite; capable of being chemically broken down.

  • compostable

    A subset of biodegradable materials that break down in compost conditions within a specific time frame.

Grammar Patterns

be non-degradable

non-degradable + noun

Usage Note

Common in environmental science and waste-management contexts. The word is typically used as an attributive modifier before nouns such as 'plastic', 'packaging', 'waste', or 'material'. The antonym 'biodegradable' is far more frequent in everyday English.

Common Mistakes

These plastic bottles are non-degradable because they cannot be recycled.
These plastic bottles are non-degradable because they do not break down naturally in the environment.
Non-degradability is about chemical breakdown, not recyclability.
The cardboard cup is non-degradable.
The cardboard cup is biodegradable, but the plastic lid is non-degradable.
Cardboard breaks down naturally; non-degradable applies to materials that do not decompose.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Both 'non-degradable' and 'non-biodegradable' describe materials that do not break down in the environment, but they differ in focus. 'Non-biodegradable' is more common in everyday discussions of waste (e.g., 'non-biodegradable plastic bags') and emphasises resistance to biological decomposition. 'Non-degradable' is a broader, more technical term that covers chemical breakdown of any kind, not just biological action. 'Persistent' is used mainly for chemical pollutants (e.g., 'persistent organic pollutants') and implies long-lasting presence rather than complete resistance to breakdown. 'Indestructible' is an informal exaggeration used in advertising or complaints ('This toy is indestructible!') and rarely appears in scientific writing. For example: an environmental report would call certain plastics 'non-degradable', while a news article might describe a plastic bottle as 'non-biodegradable' and a banned pesticide as 'persistent' in the soil.

non-degradable ↗non-biodegradable ↗persistent ↗indestructible ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Formed in the mid-20th century by adding the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') to 'degradable', which comes from the Latin verb 'degradare' ('to reduce in rank or quality'). 'Degradare' itself combines 'de-' ('down, away') with 'gradus' ('step, degree'). The modern scientific sense of a substance breaking down chemically emerged alongside the rise of materials science and environmental awareness in the 1960s and 1970s.

First known use

1895

1895, in the meaning defined above