plastic

word

/ˈpɫæstɪk/
PLAS-tik
/plˈɑːstɪk/
PLAS-tik

Definition

A light, flexible or hard artificial material used to make many everyday objects such as bottles, bags, toys, and containers. It can also be an adjective meaning made of this material.

Usage & Nuances

Very common in everyday English. As a noun, it is often uncountable: 'made of plastic', 'too much plastic'. Common collocations include 'plastic bag', 'plastic bottle', and 'plastic surgery'. Do not confuse the material sense with the adjective 'plastic' meaning artificial or not sincere in some contexts.

Example Sentences

Please do not burn plastic.

basic

I always carry a reusable bag so I don't need a plastic one.

natural

We put the toys in a plastic box.

basic

This cup is made of plastic.

basic

The chairs look wooden, but they're actually plastic.

natural

We're trying to cut down on single-use plastic at home.

natural