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Glite Dictionary
nonpoisonous

nonpoisonous

1 2.5
Not containing poison and safe to touch or eat
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈpɔɪzənəs/
translation icon : no venenoso
  • These nonpoisonous insects help pollinate flowers without posing any danger to humans.
  • nonpoisonous snake

Examples

  • "'Kim, if you had your choice," would you rather be a poisonous snake... or a nonpoisonous snake?'

    William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010)

  • These include needlelike spines, tough fibrous leaves, poisons, mimicry by nonpoisonous plants of poisonous ones, and leaves hidden inside a mass of woody twigs.

    Academic text (1990)

  • The nonpoisonous plant is safe for humans and pets to touch.

  • The chef used only nonpoisonous herbs and spices in his cooking, ensuring a safe meal for everyone.

Synonyms

nontoxic
vsnonpoisonous
5 3.4

Safe for people, animals, and the environment

is about safety when touched eaten or used rather than environmental effects
innoxious
vsnonpoisonous
9.5

Not harmful to people or animals

is specific about absence of poison and safety on contact or ingestion

Antonyms

toxic
380 4.0

Containing poison that can cause harm or death

poisonous
90 2.8

Containing a substance that can make you sick and can cause death if eaten, touched, or breathed

How Poisonous

lethal
1 4.3
toxic
380 4.0
poisonous
90 2.8
nonpoisonous
1 2.5

Surface Forms

nonpoisonous positive

Morphology

nonpoisonous = poisonous (transparent) = non + poison + ous

The prefix 'non-' straightforwardly negates the adjective 'poisonous' to give 'not poisonous', a predictable semantic composition for learners.

Etymology

The word nonpoisonous is made from non- meaning 'not' and poisonous, which comes from poison meaning 'a harmful substance'. So, nonpoisonous means 'not harmful or toxic'.