PFAS

abbreviation or plural noun

ˌpē-ˌef-ˈāz 

: synthetic chemicals that contain fluorinated carbon atoms, are used in consumer and industrial products for their desirable properties (such as water, stain, and fire resistance), are highly resistant to breakdown, and accumulate in soil and water as environmental pollutants : per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—dubbed "forever chemicals" for their durability—are a family of nearly 5,000 types of chemicals that largely resist degradation by repelling oil and water and withstanding high temperatures.

—Jacob Knutson

PFAS have the potential to be a health concern because they don't break down easily and can stay in the environment and in the human body for a long time.

—The American Cancer Society

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above