nonmetal

noun

non·​met·​al ˌnän-ˈme-tᵊl 

: a chemical element (such as boron, carbon, or nitrogen) that lacks the characteristics of a metal

Examples of nonmetal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The primary material that emerged from these simulations was tellurium, a rare silver-white element that shares properties of both metals and nonmetals. —ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025

Federal officials are also pushing for these limits in other sectors, among metal and nonmetal operators and aiming to establish medical surveillance programs for periodic health exams at no cost to miners. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024

All other mines, collectively known as metal/nonmetal mines (MNM), have two years. —Howard Berkes, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024

The rule, published in the Federal Register this month, cuts the permissible exposure limit for silica dust from 100 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour shift in coal, metal and nonmetal mines such as sand and gravel. —Leah Willingham and Matthew Daly, Anchorage Daily News, 25 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonmetal

• gunmetal
• resettle
• teakettle
• unsettle
• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• metal
• mettle
• nettle
• petal
• setal

Kids Definition

nonmetal

noun

non·​met·​al (ˈ)nän-ˈmet-ᵊl 

: an element (as carbon or nitrogen) that lacks the characteristics of a metal

Medical Definition

nonmetal

noun

non·​met·​al (ˈ)nän-ˈmet-ᵊl 

: a chemical element (as boron, carbon, or nitrogen) that lacks the characteristics of a metal and that is able to form anions, acidic oxides, acids, and stable compounds with hydrogen