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

The mechanical and chemical stresses involved in breaking down old plastic and reprocessing it into new yarn weaken and shorten the plastic’s polymer chains. —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 10 Dec. 2025

Elijah Lee, a biomedical engineering senior at Yale and co-founder of Forte3D, just secured a massive deal on Shark Tank after 3D-printing a cello using carbon fiber and polymer composites. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025

The process uses a combination of proprietary metal powder and polymer binding agents that are fused layer by layer to create high-strength metal components. —IEEE Spectrum, 3 Dec. 2025

There's an Advanced Armor Aluminum frame, a Corning Gorilla Glass 2 cover, and ceramic-glass fiber reinforced polymer on the back. —PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025

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