any of a class of thermoplastic polyamides capable of extrusion when molten into fibers, sheets, etc., of extreme toughness, strength, and elasticity, synthesized by the interaction of a dicarboxylic acid with a diamine: used especially for yarn, fabrics, and bristles, as for brushes.
nylons, stockings made of nylon, especially sheer, full-length ones for women.
a class of synthetic polyamide materials made by copolymerizing dicarboxylic acids with diamines. They can be moulded into a variety of articles, such as combs and machine parts. Nylon monofilaments are used for bristles, etc, and nylon fibres can be spun into yarn
yarn or cloth made of nylon, used for clothing, stockings, etc
( as modifier ) See also nylons
a nylon dress
1938; coined as a generic by the du Pont Chemical Co. as distinct from known words and having no prior meaning or use, but with the suffix -on suggesting other textile fibers such as rayon
Nylon is a fabric that's woven from man-made fibers. The great thing about your polka dotted nylon shirt is that you can throw it in the in wash instead of getting it dry cleaned. Many clothes are made from nylon, as opposed to natural fibers like cotton, silk. Women's stockings are sometimes called nylons, but they were usually made from silk before the twentieth century invention of the cheaper and more durable nylon. Because nylon is a kind of sturdy woven plastic, it's also used to make things like car parts, food packaging, and the strings of instruments. Nylon, modeled on words like "cotton" and "rayon," is a completely made-up word, with no real roots.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She has held staff positions at Nylon, Teen Vogue and New York Magazine and is currently a contributing editor at The Wall Street Journal Magazine.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
She’s been featured in Nylon, Interview and Office magazines.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025
“Tinned fish is the ultimate hot girl food,” Goldfarb told Nylon in a 2021 interview.
From Salon • Oct. 11, 2024
Tiffany Reid, senior vice president of fashion editorial and special projects for Bustle, The Zoe Report, Nylon and more, lauded the Balmain look of Tyla as a great example of the theme done right.
From Seattle Times • May 7, 2024
A model called the Nylon 66, no longer in production, it was a favorite of Alaska trappers because of its light weight and reliability.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
