polymer

noun

poly·​mer ˈpä-lə-mər 

: a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units

polymeric

ˌpä-lə-ˈmer-ik 

adjective

polymerism

pə-ˈli-mə-ˌri-zəm  ˈpä-lə-mə- 

noun

polymerlike

ˈpä-lə-mər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of polymer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But conventional carbon fiber production depends heavily on PAN, a synthetic polymer derived from petroleum. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

The company is betting that preserving the polyester polymer will prove cheaper than breaking it apart and rebuilding it. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

The 18 lower receivers were described in the affidavit as unfinished polymer components that had not been serialized like ordinary completed lower receivers. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

Energy from the sun helps reactions between those blocks along, coaxing them to form polymers, or longer chains of molecules. — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, back-formation from polymeric, from Greek polymerēs having many parts, from poly- + meros part — more at merit entry 1

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing polymer

• high polymer

Rhymes for polymer

• biopolymer
• homopolymer
• copolymer

Kids Definition

polymer

noun

poly·​mer ˈpäl-ə-mər 

: a chemical compound or mixture of compounds that is formed by combination of smaller molecules and consists basically of repeating structural units

polymeric

ˌpäl-ə-ˈmer-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

polymer

noun

poly·​mer ˈpäl-ə-mər 

: a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units