polyethylene glycol

noun

: any of a series of polymers H(OCH₂CH₂)_nOH where n is greater than three that vary from viscous liquids to waxy solids and are used especially as lubricants and in medical and biotechnological applications

—abbreviation PEG

Examples of polyethylene glycol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new material is mainly made of polyethylene glycol (PEG), a chemically neutral polymer. —Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025

This includes laxatives and stool softeners like Miralax (polyethylene glycol), Ducolax (bisacodyl), Senna (sennosides), and Colace (docusate sodium). —Kirstyn Hill, Health, 21 Nov. 2025

Laboratory studies have also shown that surface modifications using polyethylene glycol (PEG) reduce fouling. —Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

To preserve the ship after she was gently lifted from the water with large pontoon boats, she was sprayed continuously with polyethylene glycol for 17 years, then allowed to dry very slowly until around 2011. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polyethylene glycol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Medical Definition

polyethylene glycol

noun

: any of a series of polymers H(OCH₂CH₂)_nOH where n is greater than three that vary from viscous liquids to white solids and are used in medicine especially as laxatives and as bases for pharmaceutical ointments and cosmetic creams

—abbreviation PEG

Note: The covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol chains to biomolecules (see pegylation) is used especially to improve the bioavailability, solubility, and stability of therapeutic agents and to reduce their immunogenicity.