nonbiological

adjective

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

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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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 And there’s no sign of hydrothermal reactions with other minerals that can produce graphite, which is the next most likely source of nonbiological graphite like this. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "New evidence would push life back to at least 3.95 billion years ago," 30 Sep. 2017 And if a couple breaks up, lawyers say that without an adoption, the nonbiological parent may have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in court to establish the right to custody. — Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times, "Same-Sex Parents Still Face Legal Complications," 20 June 2017

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