plasticizer

noun

plas·​ti·​ciz·​er ˈpla-stə-ˌsī-zər How to pronounce plasticizer (audio)
: one that plasticizes
specifically : a chemical added especially to rubbers and resins to impart flexibility, workability, or stretchability

Examples of plasticizer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The other product from Temu that authorities flagged was a jumpsuit, which, according to the government, contained 294 times the legal limit for phthalate plasticizers. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 Of those 26 pieces, authorities found seven contained higher amounts of toxins like lead, cadmium and phthalate plasticizers. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 Bioplastics instead use carbon extracted from crops like corn or sugarcane, which is then mixed with other chemicals, like plasticizers, found in traditional plastics. Matt Simon, WIRED, 15 Dec. 2022 At issue are plasticizers, a chemical that makes plastic more flexible and resilient, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 30 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for plasticizer 

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plasticizer was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near plasticizer

Cite this Entry

“Plasticizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plasticizer. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

plasticizer

noun
plas·​ti·​ciz·​er
variants or British plasticiser
: a chemical added especially to rubbers and resins to impart flexibility, workability, or stretchability

More from Merriam-Webster on plasticizer

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