silicone

noun

sil·​i·​cone ˈsi-lə-ˌkōn How to pronounce silicone (audio)
: any of various polymeric organic silicon compounds obtained as oils, greases, or plastics and used especially for water-resistant and heat-resistant lubricants, varnishes, binders, and electric insulators

Examples of silicone in a Sentence

a prosthesis made of silicone
Recent Examples on the Web As a bonus, this is free of artificial dyes, colors, sweeteners, sugars, parabens, silicones, and SLS. Jessica Booth, Parents, 10 Mar. 2024 Body-framing pieces surfaced with a rippling, sheeny silicone latex treatment reflect the watery vistas of the designer’s upbringing — her mother worked as a ship’s captain on the Great Lakes — as well as her siren intent to project a unique and specific voice in the fashion space. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024 Yes, there are silicones in this oil, but Burnside makes a point to note that there’s a common misconception that silicones are unhealthy and will cause buildup in hair. Neha Tandon, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 Drop the stems into a large resealable plastic or silicone bag and smear 6 Tbsp. Antara Sinha, Bon Appétit, 20 Feb. 2024 Two women charged with killing a 26-year-old woman by giving her a fatal dose of silicone to enlarge her buttocks in 2019 had seen the unlicensed procedure turn deadly before, prosecutors argued in court. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024 The product page says that the case is made of silicone, but beyond that, details—specifically those regarding sustainability—are nonexistent. Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 18 Feb. 2024 The 255 silicone grooming tips mimic the touch of the hand to provide a soothing massage, which my cat JC enjoys. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024 The leggings target your core, legs, and thighs, and a silicone band at the waist helps keep everything secure — bonus points for the breathability of Skims’ shapewear across the board. Annie Blackman, Allure, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silicone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

silicon + -one

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silicone was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near silicone

Cite this Entry

“Silicone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silicone. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

silicone

noun
sil·​i·​cone ˈsil-ə-ˌkōn How to pronounce silicone (audio)
: any of various silicon compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen, are obtained as oily or greasy substances or plastics, and are used especially for water-resistant and heat-resistant lubricants and varnishes

Medical Definition

silicone

noun
sil·​i·​cone ˈsil-ə-ˌkōn How to pronounce silicone (audio)
: any of various polymeric organic silicon compounds which are obtained as oils, greases, or plastics and some of which have been used as surgical implants

More from Merriam-Webster on silicone

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