Basic Details
Word: Disposable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Made to be used once or for a short time and then thrown away.
Synonyms: throwaway, single-use
Antonyms: reusable, durable, permanent
How to Spell Disposable
Syllables: dis - pos - a - ble
Tricky part: Dispose drops its final e before able, so disposeable is wrong. The ending is able, not ible.
Watch out for: disposeable, disposible, dispossable
Memory tip: Dispose and able meet, and the e of dispose steps aside to make room: dispos + able.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Our school canteen has stopped using disposable plastic plates.
Example 2: Carry a steel bottle instead of buying disposable ones.
Example 3: Doctors wear disposable gloves and throw them away after each patient.
Fun Fact
From 1 July 2022, India banned many single-use plastic items, such as plastic cutlery, straws and earbuds with plastic sticks.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word: disposable
a) single-use
b) reusable
c) cheap
d) throwaway
Show answer
b) reusable. Something reusable can be used again and again, unlike a disposable item.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) comfortable
b) suitable
c) disposible
d) valuable
Show answer
c) disposible. Disposable ends in able, like comfortable, valuable and suitable.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
disposeable
a) o
b) e
c) s
d) a
Show answer
b) e. The e of dispose is dropped before able.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
posdelsabi
a) disposable
b) dispensable
c) despicable
d) disposal
Show answer
a) disposable. Ten letters with o, two s's and no n or c: that is disposable.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Name the item that is disposable.
a) a wooden chair
b) a paper cup used once
c) a steel tiffin box
d) a cotton shirt
Show answer
b) a paper cup used once
2. Why are disposable items a problem for the environment?
a) they cost nothing
b) they last for ever
c) they are too heavy to carry
d) they create a lot of waste
Show answer
d) they create a lot of waste
