nondangerous

Nondangerous is an adjective used to describe objects, substances, activities, or scenarios that do not pose a significant risk of harm under specified conditions. The term is most often encountered in safety, risk assessment, and labeling contexts. It is closely related to the terms nonhazardous, safe, and non-dangerous, though usage varies by region and field.

In regulatory and shipping contexts, the word nondangerous may be used to distinguish from dangerous or hazardous materials. In many regulatory schemes, nonhazardous or not dangerous constitute formal classifications with defined criteria. However, in many technical documents and industry usage, nonhazardous is more common than nondangerous and may carry different implications depending on the jurisdiction.

Etymology: the word is formed from non- plus dangerous and has appeared in English literature since the early modern period. It is typically hyphenated as non-dangerous or nonhazardous, while nondangerous without a hyphen is also seen in various contexts.

Limitations: classification depends on context, exposure, quantity, and conditions. Something described as nondangerous under one set of conditions may become dangerous under others, such as in chemical exposures or physical hazards. Therefore, the label is context-specific rather than an absolute safety guarantee.

See also: hazard, dangerous goods, nonhazardous materials, safety data sheet, risk assessment, regulatory classification.