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Glite Dictionary
🔩 Not containing iron 🔩 A metal without iron
nonferrous

nonferrous

6.6
A metal that does not contain iron, such as copper or aluminum
  • noun
  • /nɒnˈfɛrəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : metal no ferroso
  • The recycling plant specializes in separating nonferrous metals from other materials to recover valuable resources.
  • nonferrous metals

Examples

  • The Ministry of Nonferrous Metals essentially made all the important decisions, including those pertaining to environmental quality.

    Academic text (1996)

  • As noted previously, under the Soviet regime, Norilsk's operations were entirely controlled by the state through the Ministry of Nonferrous Metals.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Nonferrous construction and powder-coated finish help resist corrosion.

    Academic text (2004)

  • If fly ash is a troublesome by-product of incineration, the clinker represents an economic opportunity, containing about 14 percent ferrous metals and one percent nonferrous, such as copper, aluminum, and lead.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Nonferrous metals, such as copper and aluminum, are commonly used in electrical wiring due to their conductivity.

  • Many industries prefer nonferrous metals because they are lighter and resist corrosion better than ferrous metals.

Antonyms

ferrous
  • Specialized
2 7.2

A material that contains iron, often a metal like steel

How Iron-rich

ferrous
  • Specialized
2 7.2
nonferrous
  • Specialized
6.6

Surface Forms

nonferrous singular
nonferrous metals plural

Morphology

nonferrous = ferrous (semi-transparent) = non + ferrous

The meaning is compositionally 'not ferrous', but the technical base word 'ferrous' is unlikely to be well known to many learners.

Etymology

Nonferrous as a noun follows the same parts: non- 'not' + ferrous 'iron', so a nonferrous is simply a metal such as copper or aluminum that is 'not iron' and is often valuable because it does not rust.