Nonfissionable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Not capable of being split into smaller nuclei through nuclear fission
2. Describes a material or isotope that cannot be divided by nuclear reactions to release energy
3. Refers to substances that do not undergo the nuclear fission process and thus cannot be used as fuel in fission reactors

Etymology: The prefix "non-" is inherited from Old English "nān," meaning "none" or "not one." That word traces back through Proto-Germanic to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "not" and "one," so the negation in "nonfissionable" is literally the same word as "none." The "-able" ending comes from Latin "-bilis" and "-ābilis," which English received through Old French "-able." It carries the sense of being capable of something, so "fissionable" means capable of being split. "Fission" is an English term, and "fissionable" adds the suffix to it. Put together, "nonfissionable" combines the negation with that suffixed base, describing something that cannot be split in this way.

Synonyms: stable, insusceptible, inert, unreactive, non-radioactive

Antonyms: fissionable, reactive, unstable, volatile