Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

corrugated

American  
[kawr-uh-gay-tid, kor-] / ˈkɔr əˌgeɪ tɪd, ˈkɒr- /

adjective

  1. shaped into wavy folds or alternating furrows and ridges.

    Drops of rain hammered on the corrugated metal roof.

    Your cat can use the toy’s corrugated cardboard center as a scratching mat.


verb

  1. the simple past tense and past participle of corrugate.

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of corrugated

First recorded in 1585–95; corrugate ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective; corrugate ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb


Explanation

Corrugated means molded into tight ridges and valleys. You've probably seen corrugated cardboard or corrugated metal roofs. Materials are put into a corrugated shape to ensure elasticity and strength — cardboard boxes hold their shape because the cardboard is reinforced with a corrugated layer inside the two flat pieces. To remember corrugated, think about corduroy pants — which also have ridges and valleys. If you're lucky enough to have had ribbon candy, that's corrugated as well.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing corrugated

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:

On Saturday, firefighters were still clearing debris and removing collapsed corrugated metal roofing.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

The digital age has crushed demand for newsprint and office paper, but e-commerce promised a golden era for corrugated boxes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

The firm which tested the sample told the BBC it contained Chrysotile fibre, a white loose asbestos usually found in pipe insulation or corrugated roofs.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The corrugated steel walls are filled with dense foam.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026

She rubbed clothes against a washboard with a surface of corrugated metal to help get the dirt out.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training