nonionizing

1 7.2

Not strong enough to remove electrons from atoms or molecules

adjective
/ˌnɒnˈaɪənaɪzɪŋ/

Specialized

: no ionizante

Nonionizing radiation, such as microwaves, does not have enough energy to displace electrons from atoms.

Examples

Many everyday technologies, like radio and television, use nonionizing radiation to transmit signals.
Nonionizing electromagnetic fields are commonly found near power lines and are considered safe for human exposure.
The absence of risk is related to the time spent working in front of the machine, but the highest nonionizing radiation is from the back and top of the unit (Goldhaber, Polen, & Hiatt, 1988).

Academic text (2010)

How Ionizing

ionizing radiation

Specialized

4 6.5

nonionizing

Specialized

1 7.2

Surface Forms

nonionizing positive

Morphology

nonionizing = ionize (transparent) = non + ionize + ing

The adjective is formed by prefixing 'non-' to the participial form 'ionizing' (ionize + -ing), yielding 'not ionizing', which is semantically regular.

Etymology

Nonionizing is built from non- meaning 'not' and ionize meaning 'to make an ion', which is an atom or molecule with an extra or missing electron. So nonionizing describes radiation that is 'not strong enough' to remove electrons from atoms or molecules and therefore does not create ions.