single-use
adjective
sin·gle-use
ˈsiŋ-gəl-ˈyüs 
variants
or less commonly single use
: intended or designed to be used once and then discarded
single-use plastics
single-use paper products
Surgical masks are single-use face coverings that are designed to act as a barrier to sneezes or other potential exchanges of germs.—
Anandi Barker
Anandi BarkerExamples of single-use in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Proper handwashing would’ve been to remove the gloves, throw them away, wash hands and don a new pair of single-use gloves.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
According to Brandon, single-use bottled water is one of the most common sources of plastic trash, as well as one of our biggest sources of microplastic consumption.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
That law banned the flimsy single-use bags at supermarkets and retail stores as a way to reduce litter and ocean pollution.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
California has settled lawsuits with four plastic bag producers that were found to be violating a 2014 law that forbids the sale of single-use plastic bags, and is suing three others for the same violations.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
There are many other compelling reasons to reject single-use plastic bans.
—Daren Bakst, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
When several 14-year-old girls complained, the administrators at West Springfield High School told the girls to change faster or use a single-use restroom.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Ease of use is what makes the Bodum Chambord MoMa espresso maker a nice little appliance that won’t eat up your counter space or rely on single-use plastic pods.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
Every year, over 500 billion single-use plastic bottles are produced, with millions ending up in landfills, oceans and waterways.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
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David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
According to Brandon, single-use bottled water is one of the most common sources of plastic trash, as well as one of our biggest sources of microplastic consumption.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
That law banned the flimsy single-use bags at supermarkets and retail stores as a way to reduce litter and ocean pollution.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
California has settled lawsuits with four plastic bag producers that were found to be violating a 2014 law that forbids the sale of single-use plastic bags, and is suing three others for the same violations.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
There are many other compelling reasons to reject single-use plastic bans.
—Daren Bakst, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
When several 14-year-old girls complained, the administrators at West Springfield High School told the girls to change faster or use a single-use restroom.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Ease of use is what makes the Bodum Chambord MoMa espresso maker a nice little appliance that won’t eat up your counter space or rely on single-use plastic pods.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
Every year, over 500 billion single-use plastic bottles are produced, with millions ending up in landfills, oceans and waterways.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Single-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-use. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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