polycarbonate

noun

poly·​car·​bon·​ate ˌpä-lē-ˈkär-bə-ˌnāt 

-nət

: any of various tough transparent thermoplastics characterized by high impact strength and high softening temperature

Examples of polycarbonate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The carry-on case has a premium-grade polycarbonate structure that offers strength without excess weight. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

The back is now covered in Panda Glass, replacing the polycarbonate used on previous models. —Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025

Using a chemical glove box, a polycarbonate glass box with protruding gloves that shields substances from oxygen and moisture, scientists combined the berkelium metal with an organic molecule containing only carbon and hydrogen to create a chemical reaction. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025

For one thing, its body has been redesigned to be sleeker and more aerodynamic, and its scratch-resistant polycarbonate windshield now wraps around to the sides. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

poly- + carbonate entry 1

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polycarbonate

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• incapacitate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate