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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:

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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