terephthalate

noun

tere·​phthal·​ate ˌter-ə(f)-ˈtha-ˌlāt How to pronounce terephthalate (audio)
: a salt or ester of terephthalic acid
especially : a dimethyl-ester that is a major starting material for polyester fibers and coatings

Examples of terephthalate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those agreements span cosmetics, beverage and tire textile filament applications, underscoring what the company described as strong demand for biorecycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 26 Dec. 2025 Almost all the plastic was one type — polyethylene — with a notable absence of other common forms, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which makes up plastic water and soda bottles. F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025 But rates for colored, nonfood containers made of plastics that are commonly used in deodorant applicators — like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — ranged from around 44% to 64%. Denise Chow, NBC news, 27 Nov. 2025 Last month in the journal Energy & Fuels, the Michigan Technological University team published a new method for converting polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the material that makes up single-use plastic water bottles, into both electrodes and separators. Perri Thaler, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for terephthalate

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of terephthalate was in 1868

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terephthalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terephthalate. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!