1
: any of numerous strong tough elastic synthetic polyamide materials that are fashioned into fibers, filaments, bristles, or sheets and used especially in textiles and plastics
2
nylons plural
: stockings made of nylon
Examples of nylon in a Sentence
The rope is made of nylon.
Recent Examples on the Web
The lightweight, black satiny nylon jacket featured ruched velvet stripes and a boned ruffle around the neck, a tie belt and a zip front.
—
Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Athletic-shoe manufacturers initially worked to increase the wearer's speed in the 1970s by using lighter materials — switching out rubber and leather for nylon and foam.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Silky and quiet, the 10-denier nylon (100 percent recycled) proved durable enough to resist snags or rips over two years of heavy use in Colorado’s high peaks.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
They’re lined with a cozy layer of polyester fleece and have a sturdy outer shell made of nylon and spandex coated in a rubber-like TPU membrane.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nylon
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Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Athletic-shoe manufacturers initially worked to increase the wearer's speed in the 1970s by using lighter materials — switching out rubber and leather for nylon and foam.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Silky and quiet, the 10-denier nylon (100 percent recycled) proved durable enough to resist snags or rips over two years of heavy use in Colorado’s high peaks.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
They’re lined with a cozy layer of polyester fleece and have a sturdy outer shell made of nylon and spandex coated in a rubber-like TPU membrane.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nylon
Cite this Entry
“Nylon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nylon. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nylon
noun
ny·lon
ˈnī-ˌlän 
1
: any of numerous strong tough elastic synthetic materials used especially in textiles and plastics
2
plural
: stockings made of nylon
nylon
adjective
Etymology
coined from meaningless word elements
Medical Definition
nylon
noun
ny·lon
ˈnī-ˌlän
: any of numerous strong tough elastic synthetic polyamide materials that are fashioned into fibers, filaments, bristles, or sheets
nylon sutures and prosthetic devices
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