nonstarter

noun

non·​start·​er ˌnän-ˈstär-tər 

1

: one that does not start

2

: someone or something that is not productive or effective

… his son has been, in politics a nonstarter …

—Anthony Lejeune

Examples of nonstarter in a Sentence

She's the leading scorer among the team's nonstarters.

Recent Examples on the Web

Several teams — including the Mercury and Seattle Storm — would likely be nonstarters due to her history with both organizations. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

But massively raising both taxes and welfare payments is a political nonstarter. — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Plus the idea of wearing AI glasses and a tech-bro wrist accessory was, truthfully, a nonstarter. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 24 June 2026

In a nation where the rule of law still matters, Elliott would allow cities and towns to pay utilities a fraction of the value of their infrastructure (poles, wires, transformers, and easements) because to pay their real value would make his proposal a nonstarter. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nonstarter

• arter
• barter
• charter
• darter
• garter
• martyr
• smarter
• starter
• tartar