Bakelite

American  

[bey-kuh-lahyt, beyk-lahyt] / ˈbeɪ kəˌlaɪt, ˈbeɪk laɪt /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for any of a series of thermosetting plastics prepared by heating phenol or cresol with formaldehyde and ammonia under pressure: used for radio cabinets, telephone receivers, electric insulators, and molded plastic ware.

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Bakelite British  

/ ˈbeɪkəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. any one of a class of thermosetting resins used as electric insulators and for making plastic ware, telephone receivers, etc

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Etymology

Origin of Bakelite

C20: named after L. H. Baekeland (1863–1944), Belgian-born US inventor; see _-ite ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Bakelite

Sumitomo Bakelite, whose core business is encapsulation materials, is positioned for sustained growth amid tailwinds from higher sales and capital expenditure at outsourced semiconductor assembly and test firms, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Enck's book traces the history of plastic: from its earliest incarnation in 1909, when Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, through the "myth" of plastic recycling promoted by industry from the mid-20th century onward.

From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026

During her recent lecture on Bakelite, Bauer brought the candlestick telephone from her apartment and discussed the history of the plastic material.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

However, Callum told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme - via his 1940s Bakelite rotary-dial telephone - that there is one thing from the post-war period he definitely does not do.

From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2023

She could imagine herself hurrying down now to her bedroom, to a clean block of lined paper and her marbled, Bakelite fountain pen.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan