oligomer

noun

olig·​o·​mer ə-ˈli-gə-mər How to pronounce oligomer (audio)
: a polymer or polymer intermediate containing relatively few structural units
oligomeric adjective
oligomerization noun

Examples of oligomer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Inhibition of amyloid beta oligomer accumulation by NU-9: A unifying mechanism for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 Gel polish, on the other hand, gets its durability from a lower, weaker concentration of monomers and oligomers, which doesn’t give nails as hard of a coating. Devon Abelman, Allure, 28 May 2025 Clearing Protein Clumps and Reducing Inflammation With Alzheimer's, amyloid beta oligomers—small clusters of a brain protein called amyloid beta that become sticky and toxic—build up and attach to brain cells, interfering with how the brain works and eventually killing cells. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 Acumen is focused on developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease, leveraging its proprietary approach targeting amyloid-beta oligomers, which are believed to be a key factor in the disease's pathology. Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2025 Soft gel, a formula of acrylic monomers and oligomers, is the material behind Gel-X. Until the cutting edge formula founded by Aprés, soft gel was too soft to extend into longer nails. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 31 Aug. 2023 This is important because oligomers are even more poisonous to brain cells than plaques are. Gary Stix, Scientific American, 27 Jan. 2023 Gel polishes are made with a mix of acrylic monomers and oligomers that harden under UV light to create a hard, glossy coat. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Feb. 2023 The title of most harmful form of amyloid goes to what’s known as a toxic oligomer, which is currently undetectable in the living human brain. Sam Gandy, STAT, 17 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

oligo- + -mer

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oligomer was in 1952

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oligomer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligomer. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

oligomer

noun
oligo·​mer ə-ˈlig-ə-mər How to pronounce oligomer (audio)
: a polymer or polymer intermediate containing relatively few structural units
oligomeric adjective
oligomerization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on oligomer

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