methylparaben

[ meth-uhl-par-uh-ben ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a common paraben, C 8 H 8 O 3 , widely used in cosmetics and food: methylparabens may be synthetic or occur naturally, especially as insect pheromones, including those produced by queen honeybees.

Word History and Origins

Origin of methylparaben¹

First recorded in 1940–45; methyl- + para- ¹ + ben(zoic acid)