plastic

noun

plas·tic | \ ˈpla-stik

How to pronounce plastic (audio)

\

Definition of plastic

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

plastic

adjective

Definition of plastic (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : made or consisting of a plastic

2 : having a quality suggestive of mass-produced plastic goods especially : artificial sense 3 plastic smiles

3a : capable of being molded or modeled plastic clay

b : capable of adapting to varying conditions : pliable ecologically plastic animals

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

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

6 : of, relating to, or involving plastic surgery

7 : formative, creative plastic forces in nature

8 : sculptural

-plastic

adjective combining form

Definition of -plastic (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : developing : forming thromboplastic

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

Other Words from plastic Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about plastic

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for plastic

Synonyms: Adjective

malleable, moldable, shapable (or shapeable), waxy

Choose the Right Synonym for plastic

Adjective

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

Examples of plastic in a Sentence

Noun

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

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Straw in a garbage haystack San Franciscans have had their last straw — the last plastic one, at least. — Taylor Kate Brown, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: Raids or not, Bay Area families awash in uncertainty," 12 July 2019 The glass doors of the sub shop appeared to be cracked and plastic cups looked to be covering shell casings from the shooting. — Phil Davis, baltimoresun.com, "Man dead, 2 women injured in triple shooting at Alameda shopping center in North Baltimore," 12 July 2019 The lanes are divided by plastic cones and ropes, even though the entrances to the lanes are not blocked. — Judith Martin, Washington Post, "Miss Manners: Reducing chaos in airport queues," 12 July 2019 Plastic worms, Carolina rigs and soft plastic creature baits are working during the day, as well. — D'arcy Egan, cleveland.com, "Lake Erie walleye parade not slowed by mayfly hatch, hot weather: July 12 Fishing Report," 12 July 2019 The plastics don’t decompose for hundreds of years. — Martin E. Comas, orlandosentinel.com, "Seminole commissioner pitches ban on single-use plastics at county parks, venues," 12 July 2019 Drain and remove containers that hold water from around your home where mosquitoes can breed such as plastic covers, buckets, old tires, plant trays, pet bowls, toys and boats. — Stephanie Innes, azcentral, "A Maricopa County resident has died from West Nile virus. It's the first death of 2019," 11 July 2019 Such straws have surged in popularity as cities, states, and even countries have banned single-use plastic straws. — Neil Vigdor, BostonGlobe.com, "British woman fatally impaled by metal straw," 11 July 2019 More than 100 volunteers pitched in and rounded up over 116 pounds of trash, 70 pounds of which was plastic. — Megan Marples And Yoko Wakatsuki, CNN, "9 of the famous Nara deer have been found dead with plastic in their stomachs," 11 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Alameda, Berkeley and Oakland also have enacted plastic straw bans in recent years. — Elena Shao, SFChronicle.com, "‘Paper straws are mushy’: SF’s plastic straw ban stirs grumbles," 11 July 2019 TerraCycle will sterilize the glass, metal, or plastic packaging, refill the containers and ship them off once more for household use. — Sarah Min, CBS News, "The company refilling your household goods is expanding to more states," 10 July 2019 The aesthetic here is plastic utensils, thin paper napkins and bright red cafeteria trays. — Dominic Armato, azcentral, "Go to Hue Gourmet for Vietnamese cuisine you can't find anywhere else in metro Phoenix," 10 July 2019 Ephemera reflecting idealized boyhood — baseball memorabilia, superhero comic books in protective sleeves, old tin toys, plastic toys, toys in original boxes, posters of sports figures and fraying newspaper clippings — cover every wall and surface. — Catherine Blinder, courant.com, "Neighborhood barbershops: A place to belong, to talk truths, to become men," 10 July 2019 Word to the wise: a plastic sheet will keep moisture from the ground out of your blanket. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, "Experts offer tips to Cleveland Orchestra fans visiting Blossom Music Center," 10 July 2019 Pushing aside a plastic drop cloth, the main characters stumble upon a laboratory. — Tatum Dooley, Teen Vogue, "Gigi Hadid Stars in Prada's Fall Winter 2019 Campaign Video," 9 July 2019 Still, plastic bags are just one type of plastic that becomes part of the plastic garbage clogging our oceans. — oregonlive.com, "A plastic bag shaming plan goes hilariously wrong -- but could it actually be unintentionally genius?," 9 July 2019 Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images The iPhone Steve Jobs revealed in January 2007 featured a 3.5-inch plastic display. — Thomas Ricker, The Verge, "What happened to the original iPhone’s plastic screen?," 9 July 2019

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about plastic

Dictionary Entries near plastic

Statistics for plastic

Last Updated

15 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for plastic

The first known use of plastic was in 1624

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for plastic

plastic

noun

English Language Learners Definition of plastic

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

informal : a credit card when used for payment

plastic

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of plastic (Entry 2 of 2)

: made or consisting of plastic

informal : not real or sincere

technical : capable of being made into different shapes

See the full definition for plastic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

plastic

adjective

plas·tic | \ ˈpla-stik

\

Kids Definition of plastic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : made of plastic plastic bags a plastic bucket

2 : capable of being molded or modeled plastic clay

plastic

noun

Kids Definition of plastic (Entry 2 of 2)

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

plastic

adjective

plas·tic | \ ˈplas-tik

\

Medical Definition of plastic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : made or consisting of a plastic

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

3a : 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 (Entry 2 of 2)

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 : an object made of plastic

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

gnomic

characterized by aphorism

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ