single-use

adjective

sin·​gle-use ˈsiŋ-gəl-ˈyüs 

variants or less commonly single use

: intended or designed to be used once and then discarded

single-use plastics

single-use paper products

Surgical masks are single-use face coverings that are designed to act as a barrier to sneezes or other potential exchanges of germs.

—Anandi Barker

Examples of single-use in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The spa uses a Belo Filtration System to reduce single-use plastic water bottles. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

More than 80% of the produce sold in US supermarkets comes wrapped in single-use plastics. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

In line with companywide sustainability initiatives, Wegmans does not offer single-use plastic bags. — Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026

Reusable totes are intended as durable alternatives to single-use plastic bags. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for single-use

• avenues
• barbecues
• cockatoos
• interviews
• kangaroos
• obliquus
• overshoes
• overuse
• overviews
• residues
• revenues
• tyrannus