non-renewable
/ˌnɒn rɪˈnjuːəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːn rɪˈnuːəbl/ (ame, ipa)
non-renewable — adjective
1. used for things such as oil, coal, or gas that exist in a fixed amount and do no
used for things such as oil, coal, or gas that exist in a fixed amount and do not come back once people use them up.
Coal remains a <hl>non-renewable</hl> fuel, so the mine will empty one day.
collocation: non-renewable fuel
Yara's science class compared <hl>non-renewable</hl> gas with wind power.
The island still depends on <hl>non-renewable</hl> diesel for most of its electricity.
Engineers want fewer <hl>non-renewable</hl> materials in the new battery design.
- finite
broader; any amount with a limit, not only energy or materials
- exhaustible
more formal; stresses that use can empty the supply
- depletable
technical; focuses on gradual reduction through use
- renewable
can be replaced naturally or produced again after use
- replenishable
emphasizes that the supply can be filled again
文法句型
non-renewable + fuel/resource/material
be + non-renewable
用法筆記
Most often modifies fuel, energy, resource, or material nouns in environmental discussions. It contrasts with renewable, which describes things that can be replaced naturally or repeatedly.
2. used for a contract, pass, permit, or similar document that ends on a set date a
used for a contract, pass, permit, or similar document that ends on a set date and cannot be extended into another period.
The gym sold a <hl>non-renewable</hl> three-month pass for summer visitors.
collocation: non-renewable pass
Ryo accepted a <hl>non-renewable</hl> one-year teaching contract in Busan.
Hoa's parking permit is <hl>non-renewable</hl>, so a new form is needed in June.
The visa sticker was clearly marked <hl>non-renewable</hl> at the airport desk.
- fixed-term
close for jobs or agreements with a set end date
- non-extendable
close in meaning; emphasizes that extra time is not allowed
- renewable
can be extended for another period
- extendable
focuses on the possibility of adding more time
文法句型
non-renewable + contract/permit/visa/pass
be + non-renewable
用法筆記
Most often modifies nouns such as contract, visa, permit, pass, or lease. It focuses on the rule that no extra time can be granted after the end date, not on whether the document is valid before then.