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

Examples of single-use in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eco effort The team is implementing all the usual initiatives for a greener hotel—no single-use plastics in the rooms, bathrooms or restaurants; transfers are arranged with electric cars; and the use of bicycles is encouraged. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

The law is intended to reduce single-use plastics in the state and make all packaging material and single-use foodware items recyclable or compostable by 2032. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Plastic bags will be banned altogether in Oak Park in 2030, while single-use paper bags will cost users 25 cents each. — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026

Joseph Nguthiru, 28, of Nairobi, Kenya, founded of HyaPak, which converts invasive water hyacinth plants into bio-degradable packaging to replace single-use plastics. — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for single-use

• avenues
• barbecues
• cockatoos
• interviews
• kangaroos
• obliquus
• overshoes
• overuse
• overviews
• residues
• revenues
• tyrannus