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Definition of polystyrene

polystyrene

/ˌpɑː.liˈstaɪ.riːn/
pol · y · sty · rene
Plural:polystyrenes
•
Adjective:polystyrenic
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polystyrene Lexical Profile

polystyrene Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A synthetic thermoplastic polymer made from the monomer styrene, produced either as a clear, rigid solid or as a lightweight rigid foam widely used for protective packaging, thermal insulation, and disposable food containers.

Example

"The fragile glass laboratory equipment was packed tightly in molded polystyrene to prevent breakage during shipping."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for polystyrene

• Rhymes for polystyrene

• Nearby Words

polyp
polypterus
polysexual
polystyrene
polytechnic
polytheism
polytheist

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th century from the Greek prefix 'poly-' (meaning 'many') and 'styrene', a liquid hydrocarbon originally distilled from storax balsam (from Latin 'styrax' and Ancient Greek 'stúrax').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Polystyrene. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/polystyrene
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