adjective
- not capable of being converted into soap by saponification; resistant to the chemical process of saponification
Usage: technical; chemistry
Examples
- The nonsaponifiable fraction of the oil contains compounds that do not react with alkali.
- Cholesterol is a nonsaponifiable lipid found in animal fats.
- The laboratory separated the saponifiable and nonsaponifiable components of the crude oil.
- Nonsaponifiable matter in cosmetics includes vitamins and antioxidants.
- The chemist identified the nonsaponifiable residue after the saponification process was complete.