polyester

American  

[pol-ee-es-ter, pol-ee-es-ter] / ˈpɒl iˌɛs tər, ˌpɒl iˈɛs tər /

noun

1. Chemistry. a polymer in which the monomer units are linked together by the group –COO–, usually formed by polymerizing a polyhydric alcohol with a polybasic acid: used chiefly in the manufacture of resins, plastics, and textile fibers.

2. Also called poly.  a fabric made from such textile fibers.

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polyester British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈɛstə /

noun

1. any of a large class of synthetic materials that are polymers containing recurring -COO- groups: used as plastics, textile fibres, and adhesives

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polyester Scientific  

/ pŏl′ē-ĕs′tər /

1. Any of various mostly synthetic polymers that are light, strong resins resistant to weather and corrosion. Polyesters are long chains of esters and are used to make fibers and plastics. They are thermosetting. Some polyesters, such as suberin, occur naturally.

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Other Word Forms

• polyesterification
  noun

Etymology

Origin of polyester

First recorded in 1925–30; poly- + ester

Explanation

Polyester is a synthetic fabric used in everything from kayaks to shirts. Polyester clothes were popular in the 1970s, but they stink if you disco dance in them for too long. Polyester doesn’t breathe! You might think of polyester as a cheap alternative to a natural fabric like wool, silk, or cotton. In certain situations, though, polyester is ideal. Shirts that are a blend of cotton and polyester, for example, don't wrinkle easily; and a sofa covered in polyester is easy to clean. Polyester jackets are often quick drying or even waterproof. Polyester comes from a combination of two common words in chemistry, polymer (having many parts) and -ester (a chemical compound).

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, textile workers are already under pressure, having faced factory closures during the Covid-19 pandemic, and more recently the war in Iran, which has hit polyester supplies.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Lu also said that petroleum is a major input in materials like polyester, a challenge for clothing companies as the Iran war drives oil prices higher.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

Research has shown that materials such as polyester also shed microplastics and “forever chemicals” that can make their way into drinking and seawater, sparking widespread health concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The swish of polyester skirts in spring pastels — lavender, mint, butter-yellow — as the women of the church organized the spread.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Maybe even my father, if he’d agree to pull the polyester lint off his necktie.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson