nonreactive

adjective

non·​re·​ac·​tive ˌnän-rē-ˈak-tiv 

: not reactive: such as

a

: lacking a response or reaction to a stimulus

nonreactive pupils as a result of head trauma

b

: having no inductance or capacitance

—used of a circuit offering only ohmic resistance to a current

nonreactive circuits

c

: not exhibiting a positive reaction in a particular laboratory test

serum that is nonreactive on the first test

d

of cookware : not reacting chemically with acidic ingredients

a nonreactive bowl

Bring the liquids and the sugar to a boil in a nonreactive saucepan.

—Harvey Steiman

Stainless steel is used in cookware primarily for its easy care and nonreactive qualities; it's a notoriously poor conductor of heat.

—Melanie Barnard

Examples of nonreactive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Canned Beans: The Differences While jarred and canned beans can usually be swapped in recipes, a few differences are worth noting: Packaging: Jarred beans are packed in glass, which is completely nonreactive. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026

Instructions Bring a large, nonreactive pot of water to a boil. —Paul Richardson, Saveur, 11 Feb. 2026

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean, nonreactive mixing bowl. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025

In a nonreactive saucepan over medium high heat, add strips of orange peel and the juice from that orange. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonreactive

• bioactive
• hyperactive
• interactive
• overactive
• psychoactive
• putrefactive
• retroactive
• unattractive
• unreactive
• vasoactive
• active
• tractive

Medical Definition

nonreactive

adjective

non·​re·​ac·​tive -rē-ˈak-tiv 

: not reactive

dilated nonreactive pupils

especially : not exhibiting a positive reaction in a particular laboratory test

the serum was nonreactive in the VDRL test