pressure-treated

American  

[presh-er-tree-tid] / ˈprɛʃ ərˌtri tɪd /

adjective

1. (of wood) treated with a chemical or chemicals applied under pressure to reduce such problems as insect infestation, decay, and rotting.

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Etymology

Origin of pressure-treated

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The decking company built its business on composite boards made from sawdust and recycled plastic shopping bags, which it pitches as more durable than pressure-treated lumber.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

The rest of the structure was built from off-the-shelf materials like pressure-treated lumber for framing and corrugated metal for the roof.

From New York Times • Nov. 29, 2022

Sheds and playhouses usually sit on 4-by-6-inch pressure-treated skids between the floor and the gravel, but the 4-by-4 pieces that support the structure now should suffice.

From Washington Post • Oct. 28, 2022

Another good application for an elastomeric coating is when the decking is made from pressure-treated wood.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2021

“I got a call come in at four-thirty needing a load of pressure-treated for a deck. Five-hundred-dollar order. And guess what? I didn’t have nobody to deliver it.”

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner