plastic

adjective plas·tic \ ˈpla-stik \

Definition of plastic

1 :formative, creative

plastic forces in nature

2 a :capable of being molded or modeled

plastic clay

b :capable of adapting to varying conditions :pliable

ecologically plastic animals

3 :sculptural

4 :made or consisting of a plastic

5 :capable of being deformed continuously and permanently in any direction without rupture

6 :of, relating to, or involving plastic surgery

7 :having a quality suggestive of mass-produced plastic goods; especially :artificial 3

plastic smiles

8 :relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting neural plasticity

See plastic defined for English-language learners

See plastic defined for kids

Examples of plastic in a Sentence

Silly Putty is famous for being very plastic.
there's usually a plastic cordiality at these corporate events

Recent Examples of plastic from the Web

Plus, there’s always a plastic squeeze bottle of Sriracha chili sauce around for those looking to spice things up.

— james patrick kelly, idahostatesman, "Pho 779 offers traditional Vietnamese fare at Meridian restaurant," 24 Aug. 2017
Let cool, then cover with plastic wrap and completely chill.

— ellise pierce, star-telegram, "These French-inspired desserts are deliciously simple," 14 Aug. 2017
Haug was charmed by a set of plastic candy canes that light up.

— joyce rudolph, Glendale News-Press, "On the Town: Holiday sale keeps league members hopping," 8 Aug. 2017
The video features an officer hiding a plastic bag filled with pills under some trash behind a Baltimore resident's house, then walking away to apparently turn on his body cam during a January 24, 2017, drug arrest.

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "A Body-cam Video Allegedly Shows a Baltimore Police Officer Planting Pills as Evidence," 20 July 2017
China recycles about 25 percent and burns about 30 percent of its plastic waste.

— tatiana schlossberg, New York Times, "The Immense, Eternal Footprint Humanity Leaves on Earth: Plastics," 19 July 2017
STEM THE TIDE: More than 165 tons of plastic is clogging up our oceans, and without new restrictions and reforms, it's projected that there could be more plastic than fish in our waters by 2050.

— lindsay talbot, Marie Claire, "The 12 Forward Thinkers Changing Style and Sustainability," 19 July 2017
That attention to taste is why Seago worked with the city to allow patrons to use glasses rather than plastic cups.

— diane moca, Naperville Sun, "Naperville Ale Fest a draw for beer novices and connoisseurs," 15 July 2017
The model has a hard blue plastic body, a white lockable lid with four cup holders and a plug inside for easy drainage.

— the good housekeeping institute, Good Housekeeping, "Igloo MaxCold Quantum 52," 11 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of plastic

Latin plasticus of molding, from Greek plastikos, from plassein to mold, form

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1624

See Words from the same year

plastic Synonyms

Synonyms

malleable, moldable, shapable (or shapeable), waxy

Antonyms

artless, genuine, natural, spontaneous, unaffected, uncontrived, unfeigned, unforced

Related Words

adaptable; bendable, bendy [chiefly British], ductile, pliable, pliant, supple, waxen, willowy; elastic, flexible, flexile, limber, resilient, workable; bending, giving, kneadable, tractable, yielding

Near Antonyms

inflexible, intractable, rigid, stiff

Synonym Discussion of plastic

plastic, pliable, pliant, ductile, malleable, adaptable mean susceptible of being modified in form or nature. plastic applies to substances soft enough to be molded yet capable of hardening into the desired fixed form.

- plastic materials allow the sculptor greater freedom

pliable suggests something easily bent, folded, twisted, or manipulated.

- pliable rubber tubing

pliant may stress flexibility and sometimes connote springiness.

- an athletic shoe with a pliant sole

ductile applies to what can be drawn out or extended with ease.

- ductile metals such as copper

malleable applies to what may be pressed or beaten into shape.

- the malleable properties of gold

adaptable implies the capability of being easily modified to suit other conditions, needs, or uses.

- computer hardware that is adaptable

plastic

noun

Definition of plastic

1 :a plastic substance; specifically :any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments

2 :credit cards used for payment — called also plastic money

—

plasticky

play \ˈpla-sti-kē\ adjective

See plastic defined for English-language learners

Examples of plastic in a Sentence

The toy was made of plastic.
a company that manufactures plastics
She used plastic to pay for her new computer.

Recent Examples of plastic from the Web

Gone from most dealerships is the coffee and uncomfortable plastic chairs; replaced by comfortable seating areas with complimentary snacks and beverages.

— bill collins ford, The Courier-Journal, "A New Generation’s Automotive Experience," 30 Aug. 2017
Other essentials include a manual can opener, cooking tools and fuel, and paper plates and plastic utensils.

— rebecca mcbane, South Florida Parenting, "Don't Wait for the Storm: The most important step in a Family Emergency Plan is to make one," 30 Aug. 2017
Outlook: Gier’s Bass Pro reports: Bass fair on soft plastics and jigs 15 to 20 feet down over main-lake brush piles; crappies good (but small) on minnows or jigs 10 to 15 feet down over brush piles and off condo docks; all other species slow.

— bruce janssen, kansascity, "Fishing report for Aug. 31," 30 Aug. 2017
To gauge what impact the increase should have had, Murray and his co-workers stashed temperature recorders inside plastic eggs and buried them in 25 croc nests.

— mitch leslie, Science | AAAS, "Something is changing the sex of Costa Rican crocodiles," 30 Aug. 2017
The plant, one of five operated by Arkema in Texas, produces peroxides that are used to make plastics and rubbers.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "CEO of Flooded Texas Chemical Plant: There’s ‘No Way to Prevent’ Explosion," 30 Aug. 2017
Place steak in a resealable plastic bag and pour in marinade.

— rick martinez, Bon Appetit, "Mezcal-Marinated Fajitas," 29 Aug. 2017
My favorite tip is this one: Put all food in the freezer inside plastic garbage bags.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "How to plant cabbage transplants," 26 Aug. 2017
Ingredients: •One large candle, preferably with multiple wicks •A small aluminum pie plate •The top of a 2-liter plastic soda bottle •A gallon of distilled water •A small bottle of glycerin.

— timothy dahl, Popular Mechanics, "How To Make a DIY Fog Machine For a Spooky Halloween," 23 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of plastic

1803

-plastic

adjective combining form

Definition of -plastic

1 :developing :forming

thromboplastic

2 :of or relating to (something designated by a term ending in -plasm, -plast, -plasty, or -plasy)

homoplastic

neoplastic

Origin and Etymology of -plastic

Greek -plastikos, from plassein

PLASTIC Defined for English Language Learners

plastic

adjective

Definition of plastic for English Language Learners

: made or consisting of plastic
: not real or sincere
: capable of being made into different shapes

plastic

noun

Definition of plastic for English Language Learners

: a light, strong substance that can be made into different shapes and that is used for making many common products
: a credit card when used for payment

PLASTIC Defined for Kids

plastic

adjective plas·tic \ ˈpla-stik \

Definition of plastic for Students

1 :made of plastic

plastic bags

a plastic bucket

2 :capable of being molded or modeled

plastic clay

plastic

noun

Definition of plastic for Students

:any of various manufactured materials that can be molded into objects or formed into films or fibers

Medical Dictionary

plastic

adjective plas·tic \ ˈplas-tik \

medical Definition of plastic

1 :made or consisting of a plastic

2 :capable of being deformed continuously and permanently in any direction without breaking or tearing

3 a :capable of growth, repair, or differentiation

a plastic tissue

b :relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting neural plasticity

4 :of, relating to, or involving plastic surgery

plastic repair

plastic

noun

medical Definition of plastic

2 :an object made of plastic

Learn More about plastic

See words that rhyme with plastic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for plastic Spanish Central: Translation of plastic Nglish: Translation of plastic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of plastic for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plastic

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plastic

Definition of plastic

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Origin and Etymology of plastic

plastic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of plastic

plastic

Definition of plastic

plasticky

Examples of plastic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of plastic from the Web

First Known Use of plastic

-plastic

Definition of -plastic

Origin and Etymology of -plastic

Phrases Related to PLASTIC

Related Phrases

PLASTIC Defined for English Language Learners

plastic

Definition of plastic for English Language Learners

plastic

Definition of plastic for English Language Learners

PLASTIC Defined for Kids

plastic

Definition of plastic for Students

plastic

Definition of plastic for Students

Medical Dictionary

plastic

medical Definition of plastic

plastic

medical Definition of plastic

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