nonnuclear

adjective non·nu·cle·ar \ ˌnän-ˈnü-klē-ər , -ˈnyü- , nonstandard -kyə-lər \

Definition of nonnuclear

1 :not nuclear: such as

a :being a weapon whose destructive power is not derived from a nuclear reaction

b :not operated by, using, or produced by nuclear energy

c :not using or involving nuclear weapons

2 :not having nuclear weapons

a nonnuclear country

See nonnuclear defined for kids

Recent Examples of nonnuclear from the Web

Under Trump, like under President Barack Obama, the U.S. has continued to sanction Iran for nonnuclear behavior such as ballistic missile activity that isn’t explicitly covered under the nuclear deal.

— josh lederman, The Seattle Times, "US hits Iran with more sanctions in response to space launch," 28 July 2017
Many are concerned that the Trump administration could penalize big international banks that choose to do business in Iran, if they are deemed to violate nonnuclear American sanctions still in force against the country.

— thomas erdbrink, New York Times, "Iranian Voter’s Plea: Stop Saying ‘Death to America’," 15 May 2017
Afghan and U.S. forces carried out the raid that killed Hasib in the same area where the U.S dropped a 22,000-pound MOAB bomb — the largest nonnuclear bomb — on a cave complex used by hundreds of ISIS fighters, killing nearly 100 militants.

— jen kirby, Daily Intelligencer, "Top ISIS Leader in Afghanistan Killed in Raid," 8 May 2017
Last month, the United States dropped its largest nonnuclear device on a network of caves and tunnels used by the group in Nangahar, killing 94 fighters.

— Washington Post, "World Digest: May 7, 2017," 7 May 2017
The U.S. military dropped one of the largest nonnuclear bombs in its arsenal Thursday on an Islamic State tunnel-and-cave complex in eastern Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.

— jessica donati, WSJ, "U.S. Drops ‘Mother of All Bombs’ on ISIS Tunnels in Afghanistan," 13 Apr. 2017

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