PFAS

American

[pee-fas] / ˈpiˌfæs /

noun

perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances: long-lasting chemicals used in cleaning products, cookware coating, fire-fighting foams, makeup, stain-resistant carpeting, etc., that remain in the environment because they break down very slowly, and subsequently accumulate within animals and people: among the substances known as forever chemicals.

Etymology

Origin of PFAS

First recorded in 1990–95; by shortening

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.

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PFAS

A spokesperson for California’s Dept. of Pesticide Regulation, which oversees pesticide use, said the EWG report looked at detections of the PFAS, but the state “looks at how the detections compare to federal tolerance levels.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Jersey Water stressed local water was "safe to drink", but agreed the island needed a framework to manage PFAS.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

The plasma treatment almost completely degraded both long-chain and short-chain PFAS.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

Another "PFAS hotspot" was found by water authority testing in the state's Blue Mountains world heritage area, close to an air force base, in 2024.

From Barron's ● May 28, 2026

Get her a stainless steel countertop system from Rorra that purports to filter PFAS, lead and microplastics out of water, without looking too industrial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023