polycarbonate

noun

poly·​car·​bon·​ate ˌpä-lē-ˈkär-bə-ˌnāt 

-nət

: any of various tough transparent thermoplastics characterized by high impact strength and high softening temperature

Examples of polycarbonate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dozens of members of Patriot Front stood in front of him and stared at the polycarbonate gates of the Metro system. — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

And yet even the muscular Rigid apparatus has a light, greenhouse feel, because the sun streams through sheets of clear polycarbonate and open grating, gridding the sidewalk in a fine mesh of shadow lines. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 June 2026

Metal awnings are similar to polycarbonate and simply offer a different design option. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026

The former should be soft and slightly flexible, such as rubber, and the latter should be impact- and shatter-resistant, such as polycarbonate. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

poly- + carbonate entry 1

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polycarbonate

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• incapacitate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate