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
John Bueno, a transgender student at the University of Idaho and a member of the student group Queer Inclusion Society, said the school has lots of single-use restrooms, which helps mitigate the logistical impacts of the bill.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
The rise of reusables may be contributing to the declining sales of single-use period products over the past few years.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Reduce your reliance on single-use plastic products.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Eco effort As a brand Capella is free of single-use plastics, and that edict is held up here.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026
In January, CalRecycle, the state’s waste agency, issued a report showing that most single-use plastic materials in the state’s waste stream were being recycled at levels below 10%.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
As a result, most of this plastic barrier packaging is discarded to landfills as single-use materials.
—J. Carson Meredith, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
In addition, restaurants and other food service providers would be prohibited from offering single-use items such as utensils, napkins, condiment packets or straws except upon request from customers.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Handy but Not Necessary Rice cookers have loyal followings, but Shannon argues that most home cooks can skip this single-use appliance.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
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ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
The rise of reusables may be contributing to the declining sales of single-use period products over the past few years.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Reduce your reliance on single-use plastic products.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Eco effort As a brand Capella is free of single-use plastics, and that edict is held up here.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026
In January, CalRecycle, the state’s waste agency, issued a report showing that most single-use plastic materials in the state’s waste stream were being recycled at levels below 10%.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
As a result, most of this plastic barrier packaging is discarded to landfills as single-use materials.
—J. Carson Meredith, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
In addition, restaurants and other food service providers would be prohibited from offering single-use items such as utensils, napkins, condiment packets or straws except upon request from customers.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Handy but Not Necessary Rice cookers have loyal followings, but Shannon argues that most home cooks can skip this single-use appliance.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Single-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-use. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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