bisphenol A

[bis-fee-nawl ey, -nol]

noun

1. Chemistry.,  a white, crystalline solid, C 15 H 16 O 2 , used primarily in the manufacture of polycarbonate and epoxy resins: manufacture and use is restricted in some places because of concerns about long-term health effects in humans. BPA

bisphenol A

1. A white solid having a mild phenolic odor, used as a monomer for polycarbonate and epoxy resins, and in other plastics. Chemical formula: C ₁₅ H ₁₆ O ₂ .

Word History and Origins

Origin of bisphenol A¹

First recorded in 1920–35; bis, variant before vowels of bi- ¹ ( def. ) + phenol ( def. ); A denotes the variant of the compound