nonbiological
|non-bi-o-log-i-cal|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/
not derived from life; not biological
Etymology
'nonbiological' is a modern English compound formed from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') + 'biological' (from Greek 'bios' meaning 'life' + '-logia' meaning 'study').
'biological' comes from Late Latin 'biologicus' and French 'biologique', ultimately from Greek 'biologia' ('bios' + 'logia'); the negative prefix 'non-' is from Latin 'non'. These elements were combined in modern English to form 'nonbiological'.
Originally the parts meant 'not' + 'pertaining to life or the study of life'; the compound has maintained that sense and is used to denote things not derived from or related to living organisms.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not biological; not derived from or caused by living organisms — e.g., synthetic, abiotic, or inorganic in origin.
The contamination was traced to nonbiological sources such as industrial chemicals.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
not related to the science or study of biology — i.e., pertaining to factors or explanations outside biological processes.
Researchers considered nonbiological explanations for the observed pattern.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/05 08:40