Terminology - Translation of single-use to French

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The term single-use translates a bit ambiguously to French as (à) usage unique,  alternatively as jetable, meaning disposable. The standard translation usage unique, is ambiguous because it has two possible deep semantic structures, according to Chomskyan transformational grammar. First, usage unique might mean for use just once before disposal, as for the English term single-use. Alternatively, usage unique might also mean for single-purpose use (i.e.; for use only as it is intended to be used). 

This ambiguity does not prevent the term usage unique to be used just like the English single-use, across domains, and as a standard translation, for example on the packaging and instructions of single-use pharmaceutical products, such as syringes, examination gloves, vials, applicators, and the like.

The product packaging below uses both the terms jetables and usage unique. Jetables, meaning disposable, is used in the English sense of single-use in reference to nasal tips used for applying the ProRhinel® infant nasal spray. The term usage unique refers to the less common meaning of single-purpose use for the branded ProRhinel® nasal spray. 

References

Chomsky, N. (1957) Syntactic Structures. The Hague: Mouton Press. 

Chomsky, N. (1965) Aspects of a theory of syntax. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.