Definition

The quality of being resistant to heat or difficult to manage; often used to describe materials that do not easily melt or change under high temperatures.

Example

The refractoriness of the material made it ideal for use in high-temperature environments.

Conversation

I was reading about the refractoriness of certain materials in my science class.

Really? What does that mean exactly?

It refers to how resistant they are to heat and pressure.

That's interesting! I didn't know materials could be so tough.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Refractoriness → It is formed from "re-" (meaning again) and "frangere" (meaning to break) combined with the suffix "-ness" (indicating a state or quality). The word refers to the quality of being resistant to breaking or melting, particularly under heat.

Memory Tip

Think of 'breaking again' ('re-' and 'frangere') to remember that 'refractoriness' means the quality of resisting breaking or melting.

Visually Confused Words