Nonusable

Nonusable is an adjective meaning not usable or not suitable for use. It is formed with the prefix non- attached to the adjective usable. The term is less common in everyday writing than unusable, but it appears in technical writing, asset management, and certain regulatory or contract contexts.

In practical terms, nonusable items are those that cannot be repaired, repurposed, or used economically. In manufacturing and inventory control, such items may be discarded, recycled, or disposed of due to damage, obsolescence, or failure to meet specifications for safety or performance. In information management, nonusable data refers to records that cannot be processed effectively because of corruption, missing values, incompatible formats, or lack of essential metadata.

Usage and style about the term vary. Some style guides prefer unusable for clarity and broad audience comprehension, while others retain nonusable in specific technical or contractual contexts. Hyphenation also varies, with non-usable appearing in older or more formal texts and nonusable in many modern sources. When choosing between usable, unusable, and nonusable, consider the audience and the domain, and prioritize the most widely understood term unless a fixed phrasing is required by a contract or standard.

See also unusable, nonfunctional, obsolete, damaged.