PFOA

abbreviation or noun

ˌpē-ˌef-ˌō-ˈā 

plural PFOAs

: a fluorinated carboxylic acid C₈HF₁₅O that is a member of the PFAS group and that has been used especially for its water and stain resistance (as in carpeting and upholstery), as a surfactant (as in firefighting foam), as a coating for nonstick cookware, and as an emulsifier in the synthesis of fluorinated polymers : perfluorooctanoic acid

Used in thousands of products from cookware to kids' pajamas to takeout coffee cups, PFOA is a likely human carcinogen, according to a science panel commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency.

—Leslie Savan

Some companies use PFOA to help their nonstick coatings spread evenly over the cookware during manufacturing.

—David Schardt

… PFOA and some closely related chemicals (such as PFOS) are now no longer made in the US, although they are still made in some other countries …

—American Cancer Society

called also perfluorooctanoate

Examples of PFOA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many nonstick pans were once made with a product called Teflon, which was made with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and was considered to be a human carcinogen. — Kelly Vaughan, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026

Another chemical tied to older Teflon production, PFOA, was phased out in the United States by 2015. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026

The movie focused on an attorney investigating water contamination tied to PFOA, a chemical used during Teflon production. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026

Consumers should also verify that PFOA and PFOS are specifically named in the certification details. — Ryan Brennan may 27, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above