phthalate

[ thal-eyt, fthal- ]

/ ˈθæl eɪt, ˈfθæl- /

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noun Chemistry.

a salt or ester of phthalic acid: phthalates are used mainly, and profusely, as plasticizers and solvents, but growing concern over their environmental impact has led to interest in developing biological alternatives.

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Origin of phthalate

First recorded in 1860–65; phthal(ic) + -ate²

Words nearby phthalate

Phrygian cap, Phrygian mode, Phryne, PHS, PHSE, phthalate, phthalein, phthalic, phthalic acid, phthalic anhydride, phthalin

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

How to use phthalate in a sentence

A 2020 study sampled 12 tampons and found phthalates in all of them.
How worried should you be about the ingredients in tampons?|Colleen Wood / Undark|November 20, 2022|Popular-Science
Many aluminum free deodorants are free of other potentially questionable substances, such as paraben and phthalates.
Best aluminum-free deodorant: Keep odor at bay naturally with these formulations|Irena Collaku|August 23, 2021|Popular-Science
These include substances like phthalates – better known as plasticizers – as well as pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, toxic gases and other synthetic materials.
Male Fertility Is Declining – Studies Show That Environmental Toxins Could Be A Reason|LGBTQ-Editor|July 30, 2021|No Straight News
Believe it or not, frequently dining out or getting takeout is associated with higher levels of phthalates in the body, thanks to food-packaging materials.
How to avoid the toxic kitchen chemicals that could damage your fertility|Shanna Swan, Stacey Colino|March 5, 2021|Washington Post

During processing, foods come in contact with phthalates, such as DEHP and DBP — or BPA in the plastic or lining of cans — and because these chemicals aren’t bound to these materials, they can leach into the food.
How to avoid the toxic kitchen chemicals that could damage your fertility|Shanna Swan, Stacey Colino|March 5, 2021|Washington Post

British Dictionary definitions for phthalate

phthalate

/ (ˈθælɪt, ˈfθæl-) /

noun

a salt or ester of phthalic acid. Esters are commonly used as plasticizers in PVC; when ingested they can cause kidney and liver damage

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 phthalate

phthalate

[ thăl′āt′, fthăl′- ]

Any of a group of esters of phthalic acid, widely used in manufacturing plastics and as a synthetic additive in perfumes and cosmetics, that have been linked to reproductive and hormonal abnormalities in humans and other animals.