- any of a number of substances added to materials in order to modify their physical properties. Their uses include softening and improving the flexibility of plastics and preventing dried paint coatings from becoming too brittle
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
plas•ti•ciz•er
(plas′tə sī′zər),USA pronunciation n.
- Chemistryany of a group of substances that are used in plastics or other materials to impart viscosity, flexibility, softness, or other properties to the finished product.
- Chemistryan admixture for making mortar or concrete workable with little water.
- plasticize + -er1 1920–25
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
plasticizer, plasticiser /ˈplæstɪˌsaɪzə/ n
'plasticizer' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
celluloid
- glycerol
- plastic
- plasticize
- PVC
- resin
- acetostearin
- benzyl butyrate
- bornyl acetate
- decanol
- dibutyl phthalate
- diisobutyl phthalate
- pimelic acid
- plastisol