triclosan

[ trahy-kloh-san, trahy-kloh-suhn ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a white solid compound, C12H7Cl3O2, with antibacterial and antifungal properties and numerous commercial uses, as in laundry detergents, toothpastes, toys, clothing, and housewares: it is no longer allowed in personal soaps and hand sanitizers, having been declared unsafe and ineffective by the FDA, which has also called for its ban in similar antiseptic products used in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Abbreviation: TCS

Origin of triclosan

1
First recorded in 1970–75; tri- + c(h)lo(r)2 + -san (a suffix of unknown origin)

Words Nearby triclosan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

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