teflon
teflon Lexical Profile
teflon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A tough, heat-resistant synthetic resin (polytetrafluoroethylene) characterized by an extremely smooth, non-stick surface, widely used to coat cooking utensils and industrial components.
"Use a wooden spatula so you do not scratch the Teflon at the bottom of the frying pan."
• adjective
Able to withstand criticism, scandal, or blame without suffering any damage to one's reputation (especially of a politician or public figure).
"The mayor's Teflon reputation allowed him to win re-election despite numerous controversies."
Word Nuance & Usage
Originally a registered trademark (capitalized as 'Teflon'), the word is also frequently used in lowercase in informal contexts and as a figurative adjective ('a Teflon politician') to describe someone onto whom criticism or scandal never sticks.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 1940s by the DuPont chemical company as a trademark blend of 'tetrafluoroethylene' and the arbitrary chemical suffix '-on' (modeled on words like 'nylon' and 'rayon').