bisphenol A

noun bis·phe·nol A \ ˌbis-ˈfē-nōl- , -ˌnȯl- \

Definition of bisphenol A

: an industrial chemical compound C₁₅H₁₆O₂ that is a component especially of hard plastics (such as polycarbonate) and epoxy resins

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that baby bottles and children's drinking cups could no longer contain bisphenol A, or BPA, an estrogen-mimicking industrial chemical used in some plastic bottles and food packaging.
—Sabrina Tavernise

… faulted federal agencies for reacting too slowly to concerns that children are exposed to bisphenol A, or BPA, through leaching from such items as water bottles, baby bottles and the linings of food and baby formula cans.
—James Hohmann

—abbreviation BPA

Recent Examples of bisphenol a from the Web

That’s one reason a growing band of researchers have come to suspect the influence of toxins in the environment—specifically, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in compounds like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.

— bryan walsh, Newsweek, "Male Infertility Crisis in U.S. Has Experts Baffled," 12 Sep. 2017
Some chemicals of concern include estrogens from birth control pills, the plasticizer bisphenol A, and the herbicide atrazine.

— National Geographic, "Why Are These Male Fish Growing Eggs?," 3 Feb. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bisphenol A.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bisphenol a

bis + phenol

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1951

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

bisphenol A

noun bis·phe·nol A \ ˌbis-ˈfē-ˌnōl-, -ˌnȯl- \

medical Definition of bisphenol A

: an industrial chemical compound C₁₅H₁₆O₂ that is a component especially of hard plastics (such as polycarbonate) and epoxy resins —abbreviation BPA

Note: Some studies involving exposure to bisphenol A have raised concerns about potential adverse health effects especially during infancy and childhood. Many plastic food and beverage containers and baby products (such as pacifiers) are no longer manufactured with bisphenol A.