microplastic
noun
mi·cro·plas·tic
ˌmī-krō-ˈpla-stik 
plural microplastics
1
: a very small piece of plastic especially when occurring as an environmental pollutant
—usually used in plural
… the microplastics that have made their way into the food chain and even the air we breathe.—
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times… the Mariana Trench contains the highest levels of microplastics (most likely from clothing, bottles, packaging and fishing gear) yet found in the open ocean, offering irrefutable proof that plastics have penetrated even the most remote places on the planet.—Rina Li
Rina Li
specifically
: a piece of plastic that is five millimeters or smaller in size
Indeed, a handful of sand or cup of seawater from nearly anywhere in the world will probably be peppered with microplastics—pieces that are tinier than a small pea and often invisible. —Jennifer Ackerman
Jennifer Ackerman 2
: material consisting of microplastics
Most of that microplastic is coming not from broken down plastic soda bottles or shopping bags but textiles and clothing made of synthetic materials like polyester.—Dharna Noor
compare nanoplastic
Dharna Noor
microplastic
adjective
microplastic pollution
microplastic debris
Examples of microplastic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like the plastic cutlery, this wrapping paper can't break down and leaves behind microplastics in your pile.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025
In women, certain chemicals found in microplastics may reduce the levels of some hormones by inflaming ovarian tissue.
—Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Given their size, microplastics are easily consumed by aquatic species, affecting their survival, growth and ability to reproduce.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
That answer came from nutrition experts featured in Ask Well, a New York Times column that aims to fill in the gaps surrounding health topics like allergies, microplastics, toxic chemicals in home goods and depression.
—Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for microplastic
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Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025
In women, certain chemicals found in microplastics may reduce the levels of some hormones by inflaming ovarian tissue.
—Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Given their size, microplastics are easily consumed by aquatic species, affecting their survival, growth and ability to reproduce.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
That answer came from nutrition experts featured in Ask Well, a New York Times column that aims to fill in the gaps surrounding health topics like allergies, microplastics, toxic chemicals in home goods and depression.
—Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for microplastic
Cite this Entry
“Microplastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microplastic. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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