Definition

A type of plastic that is used for making bags, containers, and other items.

Example

The grocery store uses polythene bags for packaging.

Conversation

Do you know where I can find some polythene bags for my project?

I think the store down the street sells them.

Great! I need it to protect my artwork.

Sounds smart — it’ll keep everything safe and dry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Polythene is formed from "poly-" (from Greek "polus", meaning many) and "-thene" (derived from the Greek "thenein", meaning to stretch or to expand). The word refers to a material that is made from many repeating units, specifically a type of plastic that is stretched or expanded during its production.

Memory Tip

Think of 'many' ('poly-') units being 'stretched' ('thene') together to form a flexible material — that's what polythene is.

Visually Confused Words