polybrominated biphenyl
noun
poly·bro·mi·nat·ed biphenyl
ˌpä-lē-ˈbrō-mə-ˌnā-təd- 
: any of several compounds that are similar to polychlorinated biphenyls in environmental toxicity and in structure but that have various hydrogen atoms replaced by bromine rather than chlorine
called also PBB
Examples of polybrominated biphenyl in a Sentence
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The claim traces back to a decades-old agricultural crisis, when PBB, or polybrominated biphenyl, contaminated the state's farming system in 1973.
—
Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Jan. 2024
Milliken faced a disaster in 1973 when a chemical company accidentally shipped fire retardant containing highly toxic polybrominated biphenyl, or PBB, instead of cattle feed to thousands of farmers.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2019
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Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Jan. 2024
Milliken faced a disaster in 1973 when a chemical company accidentally shipped fire retardant containing highly toxic polybrominated biphenyl, or PBB, instead of cattle feed to thousands of farmers.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Polybrominated biphenyl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polybrominated%20biphenyl. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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polybrominated biphenyl
noun
poly·bro·mi·nat·ed biphenyl
ˌpäl-i-ˈbrō-mə-ˌnāt-əd-
: any of several compounds that are similar to polychlorinated biphenyls in environmental toxicity and in structure except that various hydrogen atoms are replaced by bromine rather than chlorine
called also PBB
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