maleic anhydride

noun

: a caustic crystalline cyclic anhydride C4H2O3 used especially in making resins

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maleic anhydride was in 1857

Rhymes for maleic anhydride

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Browse Nearby Words

maleic acid
maleic anhydride
maleic hydrazide
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Cite this Entry

“Maleic anhydride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maleic%20anhydride. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about maleic anhydride

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