Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

non-

prefix \(ˈ)nän also ˌnən or ˈnən before ˈ-stressed syllable, ˌnän also ˌnən before ˌ-stressed or unstressed syllable; the variant with ə is also to be understood at pronounced entries, though not shown\

Definition of non-

  1. 1 :  not :  other than :  reverse of :  absence of nontoxic nonlinear

  2. 2 :  of little or no consequence :  unimportant :  worthless nonissues nonsystem

  3. 3 :  lacking the usual especially positive characteristics of the thing specified noncelebration nonart

  1. non–Japanese

  2. non–Jew

  3. non–Jewish

  4. nonjoiner

  5. nonjudicial

  6. nonjury

  7. nonjusticiable

  8. nonkosher

  9. nonlabor

  10. nonlandowner

  11. nonlanguage

  12. nonlawyer

  13. nonleaded

  14. nonleague

  15. nonlegal

  16. nonlegume

  17. nonleguminous

  18. nonlethal

  19. nonlexical

  20. nonlibrarian

  21. nonlibrary

  22. nonlife

  23. nonlineal

  24. nonlinear

  25. nonlinearity

  26. nonlinguistic

  27. nonliquid

  28. nonliteral

  29. nonliterary

  30. nonliving

  31. nonlocal

  32. nonlogical

  33. nonluminous

  34. nonmagnetic

  35. nonmainstream

  36. nonmajor

  37. nonmalignant

  38. nonmalleable

  39. nonmammalian

  40. nonmanagement

  41. nonmanagerial

  42. nonmanual

  43. nonmanufacturing

  44. nonmarital

  45. nonmarket

  46. non–Marxist

  47. nonmaterial

  48. nonmaterialistic

  49. nonmathematical

  50. nonmathematician

  51. nonmatriculated

  52. nonmeaningful

  53. nonmeasurable

  54. nonmeat

  55. nonmechanical

  56. nonmechanistic

  57. nonmedical

  58. nonmeeting

  59. nonmember

  60. nonmembership

  61. nonmental

  62. nonmercurial

  63. nonmetameric

  64. nonmetaphorical

  65. nonmetric

  66. nonmetrical

  67. nonmetro

  68. nonmetropolitan

  69. nonmicrobial

  70. nonmigrant

  71. nonmigratory

  72. nonmilitant

  73. nonmilitary

  74. nonmimetic

  75. nonminority

  76. nonmobile

  77. nonmolecular

  78. nonmonetarist

  79. nonmonetary

  80. nonmoney

  81. nonmonogamous

  82. nonmotile

  83. nonmotorized

  84. nonmoving

  85. nonmunicipal

  86. nonmusic

  87. nonmusical

  88. nonmusician

  89. non–Muslim

  90. nonmutant

  91. nonmyelinated

  92. nonmystical

  93. nonnarrative

  94. nonnational

  95. nonnatural

  96. nonnecessity

  97. nonnegligent

  98. nonnegotiable

  99. nonnetwork

  100. nonneural

  101. nonnews

  102. nonnitrogenous

  103. nonnormative

  104. nonnovel

  105. nonnucleated

  106. nonnumerical

  107. nonnutritious

  108. nonnutritive

  109. nonobscene

  110. nonobservance

  111. nonobservant

  112. nonobvious

  113. nonoccupational

  114. nonoccurrence

  115. nonofficial

  116. nonohmic

  117. nonoily

  118. nonoperatic

  119. nonoperating

  120. nonoperational

  121. nonoperative

  122. nonoptimal

  123. nonorganic

  124. nonorthodox

  125. nonoverlapping

  126. nonowner

  127. nonoxidizing

  128. nonpaid

  129. nonparallel

  130. nonparasitic

  131. nonparent

  132. nonparticipant

  133. nonparticipating

  134. nonparticipation

  135. nonparticipatory

  136. nonparty

  137. nonpassive

  138. nonpast

  139. nonpaying

  140. nonpayment

  141. nonperformance

  142. nonperformer

  143. nonperishable

  144. nonpermissive

  145. nonpersonal

  146. nonpetroleum

  147. nonphilosopher

  148. nonphilosophical

  149. nonphonemic

  150. nonphonetic

  151. nonphosphate

  152. nonphotographic

  153. nonphysical

  154. nonphysician

  155. nonplanar

  156. nonplastic

  157. nonplay

  158. nonplaying

  159. nonpoetic

  160. nonpoisonous

  161. nonpolarizable

  162. nonpolice

  163. nonpolitical

  164. nonpolitically

  165. nonpolitician

  166. nonpolluting

  167. nonpoor

  168. nonporous

  169. nonpossession

  170. nonpractical

  171. nonpracticing

  172. nonpregnant

  173. nonprint

  174. nonproblem

  175. nonproducing

  176. nonprofessional

  177. nonprofessionally

  178. nonprofessorial

  179. nonprogram

  180. nonprogrammer

  181. nonprogressive

  182. nonproprietary

  183. nonpsychiatric

  184. nonpsychiatrist

  185. nonpsychological

  186. nonpsychotic

  187. nonpublic

  188. nonpunitive

  189. nonpurposive

  190. nonquantifiable

  191. nonquantitative

  192. nonracial

  193. nonracially

  194. nonradioactive

  195. nonrailroad

  196. nonrandom

  197. nonrandomness

  198. nonrated

  199. nonrational

  200. nonreactive

  201. nonreactor

  202. nonrealistic

  203. nonreappointment

  204. nonreceipt

  205. nonreciprocal

  206. nonrecognition

  207. nonrecyclable

  208. nonreducing

  209. nonredundant

  210. nonrefillable

  211. nonreflecting

  212. nonreflective

  213. nonregulated

  214. nonregulation

  215. nonrelative

  216. nonrelevant

  217. nonreligious

  218. nonrenewable

  219. nonrenewal

  220. nonrepayable

  221. nonrepresentative

  222. nonreproductive

  223. nonresidential

  224. nonresonant

  225. nonrespondent

  226. nonresponder

  227. nonresponse

  228. nonresponsive

  229. nonrestricted

  230. nonretractile

  231. nonretroactive

  232. nonreusable

  233. nonreversible

  234. nonrevolutionary

  235. nonrigid

  236. nonrioter

  237. nonrioting

  238. nonrotating

  239. nonroutine

  240. nonroyal

  241. nonrubber

  242. nonruling

  243. nonruminant

  244. non–Russian

  245. nonsalable

  246. nonsaline

  247. nonsaponifiable

  248. nonschizophrenic

  249. nonschool

  250. nonscientific

  251. nonscientist

  252. nonseasonal

  253. nonsecretory

  254. nonsecure

  255. nonsedimentable

  256. nonsegregated

  257. nonsegregation

  258. nonselected

  259. nonselective

  260. non–self–governing

  261. nonsensational

  262. nonsensitive

  263. nonsensuous

  264. nonsentence

  265. nonseptate

  266. nonsequential

  267. nonsequentially

  268. nonserious

  269. nonsexist

  270. nonsexual

  271. nonshrink

  272. nonshrinkable

  273. nonsigner

  274. nonsimultaneous

  275. nonsinkable

  276. nonskater

  277. nonskeletal

  278. nonskier

  279. nonsmoker

  280. nonsmoking

  281. nonsocialist

  282. nonsolar

  283. nonsolution

  284. nonspatial

  285. nonspeaker

  286. nonspeaking

  287. nonspecialist

  288. nonspecific

  289. nonspecifically

  290. nonspectacular

  291. nonspeculative

  292. nonspeech

  293. nonspherical

  294. nonstationary

  295. nonstatistical

  296. nonsteady

  297. nonstory

  298. nonstrategic

  299. nonstructural

  300. nonstructured

  301. nonstudent

  302. nonstyle

  303. nonsubject

  304. nonsubjective

  305. nonsubsidized

  306. nonsuccess

  307. nonsugar

  308. nonsuperimposable

  309. nonsupervisory

  310. nonsurgical

  311. nonswimmer

  312. nonsymbolic

  313. nonsymmetric

  314. nonsymmetrical

  315. nonsynchronous

  316. nonsystematic

  317. nonsystemic

  318. nontariff

  319. nontaxable

  320. nonteaching

  321. nontechnical

  322. nontemporal

  323. nontenured

  324. nonterminal

  325. nontheatrical

  326. nontheist

  327. nontheistic

  328. nontheological

  329. nontheoretical

  330. nontherapeutic

  331. nonthinking

  332. nontidal

  333. nontobacco

  334. nontonal

  335. nontotalitarian

  336. nontoxic

  337. nontraditional

  338. nontransferable

  339. nontreatment

  340. nontrivial

  341. nontropical

  342. nonturbulent

  343. nontypical

  344. nonunanimous

  345. nonuniform

  346. nonuniformity

  347. nonunionized

  348. nonunique

  349. nonuniqueness

  350. nonuniversal

  351. nonuniversity

  352. nonurban

  353. nonurgent

  354. nonutilitarian

  355. nonutility

  356. nonutopian

  357. nonvalid

  358. nonvalidity

  359. nonvascular

  360. nonvegetarian

  361. nonvenomous

  362. nonveteran

  363. nonviable

  364. nonviewer

  365. nonviral

  366. nonvirgin

  367. nonviscous

  368. nonvisual

  369. nonvocal

  370. nonvocational

  371. nonvolcanic

  372. nonvoluntary

  373. nonvoter

  374. nonvoting

  375. nonwage

  376. nonwar

  377. nonwinning

  378. nonwoody

  379. nonwork

  380. nonworker

  381. nonworking

  382. nonwriter

  383. nonyellowing

See non- defined for English-language learners

See non- defined for kids

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

alt-59760690a61d7
Trending: Trump Tweets, We Define: 'Beleaguered'
emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz
image1358596246
Words About Word Play
alt-59775cb5d7779
Words We're Watching: 'Aquafaba'

Origin and Etymology of non-

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin non not, from Old Latin noenum, from ne- not + oinom, neuter of oinos one — more at no, one

NON- Defined for English Language Learners

non-

prefix

Definition of non- for English Language Learners

  • : not

Medical Dictionary

non-

prefix

Medical Definition of non-

  1. :  not :  reverse of :  absence of nonallergic

Learn More about non-

  1. Britannica English: Translation of non- for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up non-? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

wreak

play

to bring about or cause (something)

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. beleaguer 'Being subjected to constant or repeated trouble or harassment'

  2. scaramouch A new White House communications director

  3. non sequitur “It does not follow”

  4. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  5. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

non-

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59775cb5d7779
Words We're Watching: 'Aquafaba'

Don't dump out the bean water just yet...

image1358596246
Words About Word Play

Don't just eat your words—play with them!

alt-596f95fe451e7
'Drought' & 'Drouth' Take Us Back In Time

A variant spelling with a long history

alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail

Give them your best

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
Add Diction
Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game