nonlife

[ non-lahyf ]

noun

1. lack or absence of life.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonlife¹

First recorded in 1725–35; non- + life

Example Sentences

Moreover Cleland argues that it’s always possible to come up with an abstraction of life so coarse that it inadvertently includes some examples of nonlife.

From Scientific American

“It would be very difficult to observe a planet with the composition of Earth’s atmosphere and figure out ways for nonlife processes to produce that,” says Giada Arney, an exoplanet scientist at Goddard.

From Scientific American

Two officers were transported to a hospital where they also were treated for nonlife threatening injuries, police said.

From Washington Post

Robinson was later found at a hospital where he was treated for nonlife threatening injuries.

From Washington Post

Police said he is being treated for nonlife threatening injuries.

From Seattle Times