Styrofoam
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of Styrofoam
C20: from polystyrene + foam
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How does styrofoam compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
They took down beachside residential towers where wealthier Venezuelans from the nearby capital, Caracas, escaped for weekend getaways, and cheaply constructed low-income high-rises where Styrofoam was used as filler between cement slabs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
The cause of the blaze remains unclear but officials said on Friday that Styrofoam placed on the outside of the windows facilitated its rapid spread.
From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2025
She then reached for a Styrofoam mannequin’s head that was on a shelf in the closet.
From Slate ● Nov. 15, 2025
Local stores will sell either Styrofoam or compostable coolers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2025
The inside was filled with Styrofoam, except for a hoof-shaped hole.
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.