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
To-Go Coffee Cups Metzger explains how most single-use cups are coated with plastic to prevent any liquid from spilling, and should not be put in the recycling bin.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
Seabourn, as well as its partners, has set a goal to significantly reduce single-use plastics and food waste by installing biodigesters that use an aerobic digestion process to break down food and reduce overall waste.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Disposable masks are grouped into three main types — single-use, surgical and respirator.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
PepsiCo will provide reusable cups in an effort to reduce single-use plastic, continuing a pilot program the company launched with the San Francisco 49ers for the 2025 to 2026 season, the company said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2026
The proposal would ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastic water bottles and paper cartons of still water under one gallon in the eastern portion of the county, from Donner Summit to North Lake Tahoe.
—Conor McGill, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Numbers 1, 3, and 6 also represent plastics that are single-use-only.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
Requirements include taking responsibility for their environmental impact by measuring and offsetting carbon emissions, and by eliminating the use of single-use plastic hangers and garment bags.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
Leftovers That Need Reheating Restaurants often provide single-use plastic containers for takeout orders and leftovers.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Jan. 2026
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Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
Seabourn, as well as its partners, has set a goal to significantly reduce single-use plastics and food waste by installing biodigesters that use an aerobic digestion process to break down food and reduce overall waste.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Disposable masks are grouped into three main types — single-use, surgical and respirator.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
PepsiCo will provide reusable cups in an effort to reduce single-use plastic, continuing a pilot program the company launched with the San Francisco 49ers for the 2025 to 2026 season, the company said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2026
The proposal would ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastic water bottles and paper cartons of still water under one gallon in the eastern portion of the county, from Donner Summit to North Lake Tahoe.
—Conor McGill, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Numbers 1, 3, and 6 also represent plastics that are single-use-only.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
Requirements include taking responsibility for their environmental impact by measuring and offsetting carbon emissions, and by eliminating the use of single-use plastic hangers and garment bags.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
Leftovers That Need Reheating Restaurants often provide single-use plastic containers for takeout orders and leftovers.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Single-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-use. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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