Standard Lemma guide

polytetrafluoroethylene

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American: /ˌpɑlitɛtɹəˌflɔɹoʊˈɛθɪlin/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌpɒlitɛtɹəˌflɔːɹəʊˈɛθɪliːn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A tough synthetic resin used to make seals and bearings and to create a nonstick coating on cooking utensils.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: PTFE, Teflon

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a material used to coat cooking utensils and in industrial applications where sticking is to be avoided

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Teflon

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plastic

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleh1- Proto-Indo-European *polh1ús Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)lbor. English poly- English tetrafluoroethylene English polytetrafluoroethylene From poly- + tetrafluoroethylene.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: politetrafluoroetilè — synthetic resin
  • Chinese: 聚四氟乙烯 (jùsìfúyǐxī) — synthetic resin
  • Finnish: polytetrafluorieteeni — synthetic resin
  • German: Teflon — synthetic resin
  • Greek: πολυτετραφθοροαιθυλενίο (polytetrafthoroaithylenío) — synthetic resin
  • Japanese: ポリテトラフルオロエチレン — synthetic resin