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Glite Dictionary
nonfissile

nonfissile

8.6
Not able to keep a nuclear chain reaction going by splitting atoms
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈfɪsəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no fisible
  • Applications of nonfissile materials in nuclear technology help ensure safety and prevent unintended reactions.

Examples

  • Some nuclear materials are nonfissile, meaning they cannot sustain a chain reaction.

  • Monitoring can overlook a more primitive nuclear weapon: nonfissile but radioactive nuclear material.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Experts assess whether a substance is nonfissile during safety evaluations of nuclear facilities.

Synonyms

nonfissionable
vsnonfissile
  • Specialized
9.9

Not able to split atoms to start a chain reaction

is unable to sustain a chain reaction from repeated fissions

Antonyms

fissile
  • Specialized
1 9.6

Able to split its nucleus and release energy when hit by a neutron

How Fissile

fissile
  • Specialized
1 9.6
nonfissile
  • Specialized
8.6

Surface Forms

nonfissile positive

Morphology

nonfissile = fissile (transparent) = non + fissile

Formed by the productive negative prefix 'non-' added to the adjective 'fissile', so the meaning is directly the negation of 'fissile'.

Etymology

Nonfissile is made of non- meaning 'not' and fissile, which is the same root as fission meaning 'to split'. So nonfissile describes a material that is 'not able to split' to start or keep a nuclear chain reaction.