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
For example, during events like Vivid LIVE, the Opera House's annual contemporary music program, the facility offers guests reusable cups to reduce single-use plastic.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
As part of Plastic Free July, the organizers ask participants to make a pledge to refuse single-use plastics.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 10 July 2025
Pieces of modern litter—mostly single-use plastics—have also accumulated at the site, according to the expedition team.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
Park City banned plastic, single-use bags in 2017, so pick up a reusable canvas bag made by Stardust Sustainables (certified by the Recycle Utah’s Green Business Program) at the local grocery store, Market Park City.
—AFAR Media, 7 July 2025
However, the oceans are in trouble and are constantly polluted with plastic, particularly single-use plastic bags, which is a huge problem.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025
In the pipeline are earrings inspired by single-use picks.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 July 2025
That’s because California is moving toward a new waste management regime which, by 2032, will require all single-use plastic packaging products sold in the state to be either recyclable or compostable.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Schools and universities can still offer single-use bathrooms.
—Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
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Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
As part of Plastic Free July, the organizers ask participants to make a pledge to refuse single-use plastics.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 10 July 2025
Pieces of modern litter—mostly single-use plastics—have also accumulated at the site, according to the expedition team.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
Park City banned plastic, single-use bags in 2017, so pick up a reusable canvas bag made by Stardust Sustainables (certified by the Recycle Utah’s Green Business Program) at the local grocery store, Market Park City.
—AFAR Media, 7 July 2025
However, the oceans are in trouble and are constantly polluted with plastic, particularly single-use plastic bags, which is a huge problem.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025
In the pipeline are earrings inspired by single-use picks.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 July 2025
That’s because California is moving toward a new waste management regime which, by 2032, will require all single-use plastic packaging products sold in the state to be either recyclable or compostable.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Schools and universities can still offer single-use bathrooms.
—Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Single-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-use. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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