acrylic

American  

[uh-kril-ik] / əˈkrɪl ɪk /

adjective

1. of or derived from acrylic acid.

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noun

• acrylics
  plural

1. acrylic fiber.

2. acrylic resin.

3. a paint, prepared especially for artists, in which an acrylic resin serves as a vehicle.

4. a painting done with this type of paint.

   She sold several acrylics during the show.

acrylic British  

/ əˈkrɪlɪk /

adjective

1. of, derived from, or concerned with acrylic acid

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noun

1. short for acrylic fibre acrylic resin

2. a paint or colour containing acrylic resin

acrylic Scientific  

/ ə-krĭl′ĭk /

1. An acrylic resin.

2. A paint containing acrylic resin.

3. An acrylic fiber.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• acrylics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of acrylic

First recorded in 1855–60; acr(olein) + -yl + -ic

Explanation

Acrylic is a kind of plastic, fabric, fiber, or paint that's made from acrylic acid. You might knit your mom an acrylic hat if she's allergic to wool. Anything made of acrylic is synthetic — it's not a natural substance or fiber, but was made in a lab or factory from artificial materials. Acrylic paint is a quick-drying, water-soluble kind of paint that artists often use instead of oil paint or watercolors. The original meaning of acrylic was "containing acryl," from acrolein, the sharp, bitter liquid in onions, rooted in the Latin words acer, "sharp," and olere, "to smell."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acrylic acrylics

Rahele Jomepour Bell’s deft use of acrylic paint and soft pastels evokes a world of hazy tranquility, a palette of greens, golds and oranges imbuing each page with a palpable warmth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Through a series of acrylic paintings, Gardner explores intimate connections between parents and children, partners and siblings, inviting viewers to identify themselves within his signature faceless figures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Ants crossed a small Lego drawbridge onto a test surface, which consisted of an A4 sheet placed over acrylic.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 18, 2026

Rounding out the exhibition are a series of ink, watercolor and acrylic works on paper that “express the energetic motion of fish in networks of black line and clouds of color,” a news release said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026

Her nails are acrylic and have heart decals on them.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

For more than 60 years, he hopscotched among media, painting in oils, acrylics and watercolors, drawing, making prints and creating works on fax and copying machines as well as iPads and iPhones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

However, a closer look "reveals that these dented cans were meticulously hand-painted with acrylics", the LAM museum in Lisse said.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2024

The basic materials -- usually epoxies or acrylics -- come mostly from petrochemical feedstocks.

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024

But also missing is an example of the bright, abstract acrylics Sam Gilliam saturated into expanses of cotton duck or linen, which he gathered and draped from the ceiling and across the wall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2023

He paints very swiftly, in violent eye-burning acrylics, reds and pinks and purples, in frenzied loops and swirls.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• color
• cosmetic
• dye
• enamel
• latex
• makeup
• oil
• pigment
• stain
• varnish
• wax