nondurables

plural noun

non·​du·​ra·​bles ˌnän-ˈdu̇r-ə-bəlz How to pronounce nondurables (audio)
 also  -ˈdyu̇r-
: consumer goods (such as textiles, food, clothing, petroleum, and chemical products) that are only able to be used for a relatively short time before deteriorating or that are consumed in a single usage
average household spending on nondurables

called also nondurable goods

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The buying of nondurables—goods that last less than three years—has shot up. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 17 Dec. 2021

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

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nondurables was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near nondurables

Cite this Entry

“Nondurables.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nondurables. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

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