single-use

adjective

sin·​gle-use ˈsiŋ-gəl-ˈyüs How to pronounce single-use (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Besides the struggle to unravel it, single-use plastic food wrap is not ideal for the environment. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Popular coffee brands, Nespresso and Keurig, offer pod recycling programs to reduce single-use waste. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026 Some of those strategies are already underway, including igniting trash and turning it into biochar, piloting composting programs and eliminating single-use plastics throughout county facilities. — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 The lodge operates on solar energy, eliminates single-use plastics wherever possible, supports local suppliers, organizes beach clean-ups and works closely with conservation initiatives. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for single-use

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of single-use was in 1897

Rhymes for single-use

See All Rhymes for single-use

Browse Nearby Words

singletree
single-use
single-valued
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Single-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-use. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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