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

While pressure-treated products are made to withstand outdoor use, they’re often less attractive and the boards are essentially coated in poison — not an ideal material for a deck surface.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2021

But it didn’t help that he spent years inhaling sawdust, only realizing later how dangerous some of the pressure-treated wood he worked with could be.

From Washington Times • Dec. 25, 2019

“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