nonworking

American  

[non-wur-king] / nɒnˈwɜr kɪŋ /

adjective

1. not employed for a salary, fees, or wages; not producing or generating income.

   Our employee medical plan also covers nonworking spouses.

2. not involved in or deriving from labor; not engaged in or directed toward work, especially as an employee.

   What are some of your nonworking activities?

3. not functioning or operating.

   a nonworking coffee grinder.

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nonworking British  

/ nɒnˈwɜːkɪŋ /

adjective

1. not engaged in payed employment

   nonworking mothers

2. (of machinery, technology, etc) not operating properly or effectively

   nonworking telephones

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Etymology

Origin of nonworking

First recorded in 1850–55; non- + working

Example Sentences

For example, photos included in the indictment show the use of a hair dryer to move serial numbers to boxes of nonworking, replicated dummy servers in an attempt to mislead the U.S.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

He paid an annual rent of “one peppercorn,” according to details of the lease, triggering questions from British lawmakers about why a nonworking royal appeared to be getting subsidized housing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

A change in the 2021 International Fire Code, for example, required that midsize construction sites employ a “fire watch” during nonworking hours.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2025

The supervisors wanted to see county workers engage with at least 500 people living in RVs annually and dismantle at least 900 nonworking RVs during the pilot program.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2023

It’s the nonworking brains that get blocked, that have dead ends, that are under construction like mine.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini