forever chemical

noun

plural forever chemicals

: a toxic substance and especially a synthetic chemical (as of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances group) that persists and accumulates in the environment

—not used technically

Canadian researchers have discovered high levels of a "forever chemical", used in making toilet paper, in the bodies of endangered killer whales, sparking fears the toxic substance could further harm them.

—Leyland Ceccoin

Landfills, military bases and firefighting training centers also are thought to be sources of forever chemical pollution.

—Sammy Fretwell

—often used in plural

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are colloquially known as "forever chemicals" because they are so difficult to break down.

—Layne Cameron

Forever chemicals are used as surface treatments to block water and stains. In fact, a 2022 report by Toxic-Free Future, an environmental health research and advocacy organization, found that nearly three-quarters of products labeled as water- or stain-resistant tested positive for them.

—Hannah Norman

PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals commonly used since the 1940s, are called "forever chemicals" for a reason. Bacteria can't eat them; fire can't incinerate them; and water can't dilute them.

—Amanda Morris

Van Zile said many people love a Wisconsin Friday fish fry, but many fish are found with high levels of forever chemicals, such as mercury, and that we're slowly poisoning ourselves.

—Frank Vaisvilas

Examples of forever chemical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the past several years, Maryland’s legislature has taken important steps to confront the growing threat posed by PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, to public health and the environment. —Peter Blair, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026

There were the snowboarders who were disqualified for applying ski wax that contained forever chemicals. —Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026

Laws and regulations calling for more transparency around the use of forever chemicals will go into effect this year in Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington, where the rule applies specifically to reporting forever chemicals used in apparel, footwear and travel gear. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 19 Feb. 2026

Cancers linked to these forever chemicals are rampant here. —Dylan Jackson, AJC.com, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2018, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for forever chemical

• electrochemical
• immunochemical
• physicochemical
• physiochemical
• radiochemical
• stereochemical
• academical
• agrochemical
• biochemical
• cytochemical
• geochemical
• histochemical