formaldehyde

noun

form·al·de·hyde | \ fȯr-ˈmal-də-ˌhīd

, fər-\

Definition of formaldehyde

: a colorless pungent irritating gas CH₂O used chiefly in aqueous solution as a disinfectant and preservative and in chemical synthesis

Examples of formaldehyde in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inspired by the iridescent colors of the aurora borealis, Chantecaille’s new celestial polishes ensure out-of-this-world nails, free of harsh chemicals and formaldehydes, too. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "13 New Beauty Products Worth the Hype in 2019," 9 Jan. 2019 The catch: half of them also were given capsules containing borax, salicylic acid, or formaldehyde. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "We have food safety laws thanks to 19th century “poison squad”," 26 Nov. 2018 The following textile ingredients are also prohibited: toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, GMOs and their enzymes, and azo dyes that release carcinogenic compounds. — Lindsay Talbot, Marie Claire, "Your Everything Guide to a Sustainable Closet," 19 July 2018 In concert with a team of researchers from the U.S. and Japan, Benner has shown that when sulfur dioxide (likely off-gassed from volcanoes) reacts with formaldehyde, the result is a compound called hydroxymethanesultonate, or HMS for short. — Jill Kiedaisch, Popular Mechanics, "Life on Earth May Have Been Born From a Maelstrom of Molten Iron," 15 Jan. 2019 Some of the private schools also recently underwent renovations, and some parents were worried about reports of unhealthy levels of formaldehyde in the school buildings, the consultant said. — Josh Chin, WSJ, "China Protest Over Cash-Strapped City’s School Plan Turns Violent," 2 Sep. 2018 In recent years, Johnson & Johnson faced some backlash after it was discovered that its iconic golden baby shampoo contained formaldehyde-releasing ingredients. — Cheryl Wischhover, Vox, "Johnson & Johnson accused of hiding the asbestos in its baby powder for decades," 14 Dec. 2018 Boston Fern Boston Ferns remove more formaldehyde than any other plant. — Emily Main, Good Housekeeping, "7 Plants That Can Actually Purify Your Indoor Air," 21 Nov. 2017 Several studies have suggested the presence of formaldehyde, a dangerous chemical known to cause cancer in humans. — Ahmed Elbenni, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ban on e-cigarettes in Milwaukee takes effect -- what you need to know," 10 July 2018

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