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Synonyms

Styrofoam

American  
[stahy-ruh-fohm] / ˈstaɪ rəˌfoʊm /
Trademark.
  1. a brand of expanded plastic made from polystyrene.


Styrofoam British  
/ ˈstaɪrəˌfəʊm /

noun

  1. (sometimes not capital) a light, expanded polystyrene plastic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Styrofoam

C20: from polystyrene + foam

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A nearby store is smaller, with a single coffee pot and a tiny selection of branded items like Styrofoam coolers and tube socks.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 9, 2026

She then reached for a Styrofoam mannequin’s head that was on a shelf in the closet.

From Slate Nov. 15, 2025

The magic of blasting down a wall of water balanced on a few pounds of Styrofoam doesn’t typically translate to the rectangular page; too many efforts feel pompous, ponderous or preening.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 14, 2025

He discovered the mystery blobs one day last month, initially thinking it looked like Styrofoam.

From BBC Oct. 12, 2024

When I handed him a Styrofoam container, he slumped back in his seat, accepting defeat.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

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