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

The Nokia 2210, an acrylic on canvas, depicts the comedian's favourite-ever phone, and features a message saying, Snobs?, referring to a legendary city nightspot.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

The tank contains a toxic chemical known as methyl methacrylate, or MMA, which makes acrylic plastics and can cause eye, skin and breathing issues, according to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026

“The company actually creates acrylic plastics for the aerospace industry and that’s the reason for the chemical,” said Kurtz.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

The Oak Harbor, Wash., company is working on a new line of sketchbooks with bleedproof paper and sets of acrylic markers and fine-line pens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

A few days later, Mother drove me forty miles to a small shop whose shelves were lined with exotic shoes and strange acrylic costumes.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

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

The 25 paintings in this series, vibrant acrylics on canvas, showcase Husain's bold style while reflecting key 20th-century events and social attitudes.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025

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