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

Materials: Anodized aluminum base, polycarbonate top, ABS keycaps. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

For example, the processor may not be an overclocked Samsung edition, instead relying on an off-the-shelf chipset; where the premium model has glass, the FE model may use polycarbonate; the high-end camera components on a flagship model may move back to last year’s specs for that year’s FE model. —Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

The six tips include shielding seedlings inside polycarbonate tubes, which ward against strong winds and hungry critters while mimicking the cooler conditions beneath tree canopies. —Laura Mallonee, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025

On the inside, the body is built around a chassis that's mostly magnesium alloy (with some polycarbonate bits) with seals to prevent dust and moisture ingress. —Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025

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