1. not causing damage or harm; not destructive
2. relating to testing or inspection methods that do not damage or alter the material or object being examined
Usage: technical; commonly used in engineering and quality control

Examples

• The new cleaning product is nondestructive to delicate fabrics.
• Nondestructive testing allows engineers to inspect aircraft for cracks without removing parts.
• X-ray imaging is a nondestructive method for examining the internal structure of objects.
• They used nondestructive techniques to analyze the ancient artifact.
• Ultrasound is a nondestructive way to check for defects in metal welds.
• The company developed a nondestructive approach to removing old paint from wooden furniture.