phthalate

American  

[thal-eyt, fthal-] / ˈθæl eɪt, ˈfθæl- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. 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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phthalate British  

/ ˈfθæl-, ˈθælɪt /

noun

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

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phthalate Scientific  

/ thăl′āt′,fthăl′- /

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of phthalate

First recorded in 1860–65; phthal(ic) ( def. ) + -ate ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phthalate

Further, phthalate exposure was measured in the pregnant women from just one urine sample in the first trimester, “which may have introduced exposure misclassification,” the paper notes.

From Slate ● Apr. 16, 2026

In 2022, a landmark study led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences suggested that phthalate exposure is associated with a 14 to 16 percent greater likelihood of a preterm birth.

From Salon ● Feb. 9, 2024

Trasande cautions that further research is needed to better understand the specific mechanisms behind the link between phthalate exposure and preterm birth.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 6, 2024

The word "phthalate" is ludicrously difficult to spell for something that is absolutely ubiquitous.

From Salon ● Mar. 20, 2022

The diamyl phthalate is added, with or without the mineral jelly to nitro-glycerine and nitro-cellulose.

From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by Sanford, P. Gerald (Percy Gerald)