rubber

1 of 2

noun (1)

rub·​ber ˈrə-bər 

1

a

: one that rubs

b

: an instrument or object (such as a rubber eraser) used in rubbing, polishing, scraping, or cleaning

c

: something that prevents rubbing or chafing

2

[from its use in erasers]

a

: an elastic substance that is obtained by coagulating the milky juice of any of various tropical plants (as of the genera Hevea and Ficus), is essentially a polymer of isoprene, and is prepared as sheets and then dried

called also caoutchouc, india rubber

b

: any of various synthetic rubberlike substances

c

: natural or synthetic rubber modified by chemical treatment to increase its useful properties (such as toughness and resistance to wear) and used especially in tires, electrical insulation, and waterproof materials

3

: something made of or resembling rubber: such as

a

: a rubber overshoe

b(1)

: a rubber tire

(2)

: the set of tires on a vehicle

c

: a rectangular slab of white rubber in the middle of a baseball infield on which a pitcher stands while pitching

d

: condom sense 1

rubber adjective

rubber

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a contest consisting of an odd number of games won by the side that takes a majority (such as two out of three)

2

: an odd game played to determine the winner of a tie

Examples of rubber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The watch is complemented with a black and gray bi-material rubber and gray textile strap with the Luna Rossa stripe as well as a second black rubber strap. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The rubber that creates a tight seal on oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, and washing machine doors certainly needs a good cleaning regimen to remove debris and mildew. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2025

Instead, the material is made of recycled rubber, vegetable proteins and biopolymers. —Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

What’s known as the female dummy is essentially a much smaller version of the male model with a rubber jacket to represent breasts. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rubber

• burn rubber
• butyl rubber
• foam rubber
• hard rubber
• india rubber
• Para rubber
• Para rubber tree
• rubber band
• rubber boot
• rubber bridge
• rubber bullet
• rubber cement
• rubber check
• rubber-chicken
• rubber plant
• rubber rabbitbrush
• rubber stamp
• rubber tree
• silicone rubber
• sponge rubber

Rhymes for rubber

• blubber
• liber
• scrubber
• snubber

Kids Definition

rubber

1 of 2 noun

rub·​ber ˈrəb-ər 

1

: something used in rubbing, polishing, scraping, or cleaning

2

a

: an elastic substance obtained from the milky juice of various tropical plants

b

: any of various synthetic substances like rubber

3

: something made of or resembling rubber: as

a

: a rubber overshoe

b

: a rectangular slab of white rubber in the middle of a baseball infield on which a pitcher stands while pitching

4

: condom

rubberlike

-ˌlīk

adjective

rubbery

ˈrəb-(ə-)rē

adjective

rubber

2 of 2 noun

1

: a contest that consists of an odd number of games (as card games) and is won by the side that takes a majority (as two out of three)

2

: an extra game played to decide the winner of a tie

Medical Definition

rubber

noun

rub·​ber ˈrəb-ər 

1

: an elastic substance that is obtained by coagulating the milky juice of any of various tropical plants (as of the genera Hevea and Ficus), is essentially a polymer of isoprene, and is prepared as sheets and then dried

called also caoutchouc, india rubber

2

: condom sense 1