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
During the annual Hajj, millions of single-use Ihram, a white towel one wears during the pilgrimage, were sold to those who visit Mecca.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 6 June 2025
From single-use tent to seasonal landmark The first Serpentine Pavilion was designed by Zaha Hadid — the celebrated Iraqi-British architect and artist who, at the time, had never built in the country, even after three decades of living in the UK.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Laundry routines have evolved with the rise of single-use detergent pods that take away the need to measure.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2025
Guest rooms also feature energy-efficient lighting, refillable glass amenities, and limited single-use plastics.
—Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law in 2022, mandating that by 2032, all single-use plastics in the state must be recyclable or compostable, and the overall use of these materials be reduced by 25 percent.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 May 2025
With that said, nothing is more wasteful than a single-use cooler.
—Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 27 May 2025
The directive from Trump came after former President Biden set a goal in 2024 to do away with the government’s purchasing of single-use plastics by 2035.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 23 May 2025
Campaigners have expressed their disappointment at the news the Department of Interior has rescinded an order made during the Biden administration to phase-out the sale of single-use plastics in national parks by 2032.
—Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
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.
Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 6 June 2025
From single-use tent to seasonal landmark The first Serpentine Pavilion was designed by Zaha Hadid — the celebrated Iraqi-British architect and artist who, at the time, had never built in the country, even after three decades of living in the UK.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Laundry routines have evolved with the rise of single-use detergent pods that take away the need to measure.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2025
Guest rooms also feature energy-efficient lighting, refillable glass amenities, and limited single-use plastics.
—Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law in 2022, mandating that by 2032, all single-use plastics in the state must be recyclable or compostable, and the overall use of these materials be reduced by 25 percent.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 May 2025
With that said, nothing is more wasteful than a single-use cooler.
—Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 27 May 2025
The directive from Trump came after former President Biden set a goal in 2024 to do away with the government’s purchasing of single-use plastics by 2035.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 23 May 2025
Campaigners have expressed their disappointment at the news the Department of Interior has rescinded an order made during the Biden administration to phase-out the sale of single-use plastics in national parks by 2032.
—Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Single-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-use. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share