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polystyrene

American

[pol-ee-stahy-reen, -steer-een] / ˌpɒl iˈstaɪ rin, -ˈstɪər in /

noun

Chemistry.

a clear plastic or stiff foam, a polymer of styrene, used chiefly as an insulator in refrigerators and air conditioners.

polystyrene British

/ ˌpɒlɪˈstaɪriːn /

noun

a synthetic thermoplastic material obtained by polymerizing styrene; used as a white rigid foam ( expanded polystyrene ) for insulating and packing and as a glasslike material in light fittings and water tanks

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

polystyrene Scientific

/ pŏl′ē-stī′rēn /

A brittle synthetic polymer composed of repeated styrene units. Polystyrene is transparent and rigid because the benzene rings in each styrene unit prevent the polystyrene chains from arranging themselves into a tight crystalline structure. Polystyrene has a wide variety of uses, especially as a solid foam for insulation and packaging.

Etymology

Origin of polystyrene

First recorded in 1925–30; poly- + styrene

Compare meaning

How does polystyrene compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

polystyrene vs. Styrofoam

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

polystyrene

The Harlands, who built the structure using polystyrene packaging acquired from a friend, said that they were inspired by a similar display they saw on a holiday in Ghent, Belgium.

From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026

Wilson believes that Snow Secure—the high-tech insulated polystyrene blanket that unfolds like an accordion, then drapes over a pile of snow—is just the invention.

From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2026

To recreate the animal, researchers constructed the torso using polystyrene foam and a wooden frame, then added cotton, bubble paper, and fabric to mimic soft tissues.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 19, 2026

The light polystyrene craft resembles a toy plane.

From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026

He said something to the guard on the other side of the door, who nodded and returned a minute later with a polystyrene cup filled with cold water.

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023