Noncombustibility

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being resistant to ignition and not easily catching fire
2. The property of a substance or material that prevents it from burning or igniting under normal conditions
3. The characteristic of being unable to combust or catch fire, making it safer in heated environments

Etymology: "Noncombustibility" is a plain compound: the prefix "non-" attached to "combustibility," the state of being able to catch fire and burn. "Combustibility" itself comes from "combustible," which traces back through Old French to the Latin "combustibilis," from "combustus," the past participle of "comburere," meaning "to burn up" (com-, "wholly," plus "urere," "to burn"). Adding "non-" simply reverses the sense, so the word names the quality of resisting fire, the opposite of the ability to burn.

Synonyms: fireproofing, incombustibility