perfluorooctane sulfonate

noun

per·fluo·ro·oc·tane sulfonate pər-ˌflȯr-ō-ˈäk-ˌtān-

-ˌflu̇r-

variants or less commonly perfluorooctanesulfonate

: a fluorinated sulfonic acid C₈HF₁₇O₃S that is a member of the PFAS group and that has been used especially for its water and stain resistance : PFOS, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid

Perfluorooctane sulfonate is a chemical long used in Scotchgard stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and food packaging made by 3M.—

Michael Hawthorne

… the military is the source of the contamination―largely due to discharges of firefighting foam laden with perfluorooctanesulfonate, or PFOS.—

Alexander C. Kaufman

Word History

Etymology

perfluorooctanesulfon(ic acid) + -ate entry 1

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of perfluorooctane sulfonate was in 1994

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near perfluorooctane sulfonate

perfluorocarbon

perfluorooctane sulfonate

perfluorooctanesulfonic acid

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Perfluorooctane sulfonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfluorooctane%20sulfonate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation