degradable

[ dih-grey-duh-buhl ]

/ dɪˈgreɪ də bəl /

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adjective

susceptible to chemical breakdown.

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Compare biodegradable.

Origin of degradable

First recorded in 1960–65; degrade + -able

OTHER WORDS FROM degradable

de·grad·a·bil·i·ty, noun

Words nearby degradable

degloss, deglut., deglutinate, deglutition, degorger, degradable, degradation, degradation of energy, degrade, degraded, degrading

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use degradable in a sentence

By putting Eagan’s product through one more reaction, Tonks made the polymer fully degradable back to reusable CO2 — a circular carbon economy goal.
How to make recyclable plastics out of CO2 to slow climate change|Ann Leslie Davis|September 9, 2022|Science News
They inserted the enzymes along with another ingredient, a degradable additive Xu previously developed, which ensured the enzymes didn’t clump together and didn’t fall apart.
A new technique could make some plastic trash compostable at home|Carmen Drahl|April 21, 2021|Science News
As of last year, even the plastic cap on many containers is made out of a degradable product derived from sugar cane.
Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore|Jordan Salcito|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for degradable

degradable

/ (dɪˈɡreɪdəbəl) /

adjective

(of waste products, packaging materials, etc) capable of being decomposed chemically or biologicallySee also biodegradable

capable of being degraded

Derived forms of degradable

degradability, noun

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

Scientific definitions for degradable

degradable

[ dĭ-grā′də-bəl ]

Relating to a compound that breaks down into simpler compounds by stages. During the degradation of a degradable compound, well-defined intermediate products are created.