polymer

American  

[pol-uh-mer] / ˈpɒl ə mər /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a compound of high molecular weight derived either by the addition of many smaller molecules, as polyethylene, or by the condensation of many smaller molecules with the elimination of water, alcohol, or the like, as nylon.

2. a compound formed from two or more polymeric compounds.

3. a product of polymerization.

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polymer British  

/ ˈpɒlɪmə, ˈpɒlɪmə-, pəˈlɪməˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. a naturally occurring or synthetic compound, such as starch or Perspex, that has large molecules made up of many relatively simple repeated units Compare copolymer oligomer

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polymer Scientific  

/ pŏl′ə-mər /

1. Any of various chemical compounds made of smaller, identical molecules (called monomers) linked together. Some polymers, like cellulose, occur naturally, while others, like nylon, are artificial. Polymers have extremely high molecular weights, make up many of the tissues of organisms, and have extremely varied and versatile uses in industry, such as in making plastics, concrete, glass, and rubber.

2. ◆ The process by which molecules are linked together to form polymers is called polymerization (pŏl′ə-lĭm′ər-ĭ-zā|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||shən).

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polymer Cultural  

1. In chemistry, a long molecule made up of a chain of smaller, simpler molecules.

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Discover More

Proteins and many carbohydrates, such as cellulose, are polymers. Plastics are also polymers.

Other Word Forms

• polymerism
  noun
• superpolymer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of polymer

First recorded in 1865–70, polymer is from the Greek word polymerḗs having many parts. See poly-, -mer

Compare meaning

How does polymer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• monomer vs. polymer

Explanation

A polymer is a very large, chain-like molecule made up of monomers, which are small molecules. It can be naturally occurring or synthetic. What's a mer? — you might ask. Well, it means "part," and it works only as a suffix. Since poly- means "many," a polymer means "many parts." You'll find polymers everywhere: they're what make spandex stretch and sneakers bounce. They're the plastic drink bottles that you're always careful to recycle. Natural polymers include leather, rubber, and even the cellulose in your french fries and the protein in your chicken nuggets.

Example Sentences

"If we get 36% then it's going to be terrible for us," said Suparp Suwanpimolkul, deputy managing director of SK Polymer, before the deal was announced.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

Publishing in Polymer Chemistry, they made a series of polymer gels with breakable bonds incorporated into different parts of the structure, and tested whether the properties changed after the gel was degraded and reformed.

From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2023

Polymer notes are not only easier to clean than paper but also harder to counterfeit.

From Washington Post • Dec. 20, 2022

There has only been one CCC-rated deal since the end of April, a $400 million bond from packaging manufacturer Intertape Polymer in June.

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2022

But Paschalis Gkoupidenis of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, and his neuromorphic research team are pioneers in crafting this technology from organic materials.

From Scientific American • Jan. 28, 2022