Nonbrittle

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Possessing the quality of resisting breakage or fracture under pressure, this term refers to materials that do not shatter or become weak when subjected to stress or force
2. This descriptor applies to substances that maintain their strength and do not exhibit fragility or brittleness when placed under tension or impact
3. Characterized by a capability to withstand deformation without breaking, this term describes materials that remain robust under stress while avoiding fragility or shattering

Etymology: "Nonbrittle" is about as plain as English word-building gets: the prefix "non-," meaning "not," attached to "brittle." Nothing about it is hidden in the history of the base. "Brittle" itself is an older English word, and the prefix has been used freely for centuries to form negative adjectives from existing ones, such as "nonstop" or "nonfiction." The more interesting part is the structure of the meaning. "Brittle" describes something that breaks suddenly rather than bending, so "nonbrittle" does not simply mean "strong." It describes a material that gives way gradually, flexing or deforming before it fails. Engineers and materials scientists use the term in exactly this sense, which is why the word tends to appear in technical writing rather than everyday speech.