nonstructural

adjective

non·​struc·​tur·​al ˌnän-ˈstrək-chə-rəl 

-ˈstrək-shrəl

1

: not part of a structure : not relating to, affecting, or contributing to the structure of something

free-standing panels and other nonstructural elements

nonstructural movable parts

2

of a viral protein : expressed in an infected cell but not incorporated into the virion particle

nonstructural proteins

Examples of nonstructural in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mayor’s hiring freeze — expected to generate $50 million — is also nonstructural. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026

The permits are for electrical work, a dock automation system and other nonstructural improvements. — Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2025

Most of the building damage from Friday’s quake was nonstructural, hitting partition walls, fixtures, electricity and plumbing, Alam said. — Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025

Sublime’s formula was recently used in a nonstructural part of the ground floor in a building in Boston. — Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024

Uniqlo plans to construct new nonstructural walls, lighting and restrooms. — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nonstructural

• infrastructural
• microstructural
• ultrastructural
• structural