nonbiological

non·bi·o·log·i·cal | \ ˌnän-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl

How to pronounce nonbiological (audio)

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Definition of nonbiological

: not biological: such as

a : not relating to, marked by, or derived from life and living processes nonbiological research nonbiological components nonbiological methane

b : not connected by genetic relationship a nonbiological parent

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Examples of nonbiological in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Simulation can also unmask signatures that seem to represent life but could be created by nonbiological processes. — Sarah Lewin Frasier, Scientific American, "CSI: Aliens--Astronomers Prep to Detect Cryptic Exoplanet Biosignals," 12 May 2015 Today, family law in the U.S. and elsewhere continues to recognize nonbiological lines of reasoning. — The Conversation, oregonlive.com, "Who’s is your daddy? It’s not all about DNA," 16 June 2019 But the gas can also have a nonbiological origin, such as geothermal activity (for which Yellowstone National Park is famous), so the researchers are not certain that bacteria continue to reside below the salty lake. — Shannon Hall, Scientific American, "The Not So Dead Sea: Traces of Ancient Bacteria Found in the Lake’s Sediments," 5 June 2019 But methane can also be produced by nonbiological sources, such as volcanoes. — Amina Khan, latimes.com, "The search for life on other planets could get a boost from biosignatures," 25 Jan. 2018 So far, her team has identified three major nonbiological mechanisms that can flood an atmosphere with oxygen, producing false positives for life. — Quanta Magazine, "Scientists Debate Signatures of Alien Life," 2 Feb. 2016 Today, family law in the U.S. and elsewhere continues to recognize nonbiological lines of reasoning. — The Conversation, oregonlive.com, "Who’s is your daddy? It’s not all about DNA," 16 June 2019 But the gas can also have a nonbiological origin, such as geothermal activity (for which Yellowstone National Park is famous), so the researchers are not certain that bacteria continue to reside below the salty lake. — Shannon Hall, Scientific American, "The Not So Dead Sea: Traces of Ancient Bacteria Found in the Lake’s Sediments," 5 June 2019 But methane can also be produced by nonbiological sources, such as volcanoes. — Amina Khan, latimes.com, "The search for life on other planets could get a boost from biosignatures," 25 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nonbiological.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near nonbiological

nonbinding agreement

nonbiodegradable

nonbiographical

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Cite this Entry

“Nonbiological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonbiological. Accessed 22 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for nonbiological

nonbiological

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of nonbiological

: not coming from or related to things that are alive

: related through adoption rather than birth

See the full definition for nonbiological in the English Language Learners Dictionary

non-biological

non-bi·o·log·i·cal | \ -ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl \

variants: or nonbiological

Medical Definition of non-biological

: not biological non-biological parents non-biological factors

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