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Glite Dictionary
nonwashable

nonwashable

4.6
Does not wash safely with water or soap
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈwɒʃəbl/
translation icon : no lavable
  • The sweater was labeled nonwashable, so I had to take it to the dry cleaner.

Examples

  • Please do not put nonwashable items in the washing machine, as they may be damaged.

  • This fabric is nonwashable.

  • Some paints are nonwashable and will leave permanent stains on fabric.

  • I bought a nonwashable jacket for the winter.

  • This shirt is made of a nonwashable fabric, so it needs to be dry-cleaned only.

  • She chose nonwashable markers to decorate her poster, knowing they wouldn't run if wet.

  • Be careful with that painting; the nonwashable paint could smudge if it gets wet.

Antonyms

washable
7 1.0

A thing, like clothes or sofa covers, you can clean with water and soap without being damaged

How Washable

washable
7 1.0
dry-cleaned
6 2.8
nonwashable
4.6

Surface Forms

nonwashable positive

Morphology

nonwashable = washable (transparent) = non + wash + able

The adjective is formed by adding the productive negative prefix 'non-' to the familiar adjective 'washable', yielding the straightforward meaning 'not washable'.

Etymology

The word nonwashable is made from non- meaning 'not' and washable, from wash plus -able, so it means 'not able to be washed'. So a nonwashable item cannot be washed with water safely and usually needs special care like dry cleaning.