microplastic

noun

mi·cro·plas·tic ˌmī-krō-ˈpla-stik

plural microplastics

: a very small piece of plastic especially when occurring as an environmental pollutant

—usually used in plural

… the microplastics that have made their way into the food chain and even the air we breathe.—

Los Angeles Times

… the Mariana Trench contains the highest levels of microplastics (most likely from clothing, bottles, packaging and fishing gear) yet found in the open ocean, offering irrefutable proof that plastics have penetrated even the most remote places on the planet.—

Rina Li

specifically : a piece of plastic that is five millimeters or smaller in size

Indeed, a handful of sand or cup of seawater from nearly anywhere in the world will probably be peppered with microplastics—pieces that are tinier than a small pea and often invisible. —

Jennifer Ackerman

: material consisting of microplastics

Most of that microplastic is coming not from broken down plastic soda bottles or shopping bags but textiles and clothing made of synthetic materials like polyester.—

Dharna Noor

compare nanoplastic

microplastic adjective

microplastic pollution

microplastic debris

Examples of microplastic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Researchers at the University of New Mexico in May announced findings revealing the presence of microplastics in 100% of testicles involved in a study. —

Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2024 In the 1960s, microplastics began receiving patents for use in cosmetics and personal care items. —

Davis Cury, Orlando Sentinel, 12 July 2024 Photograph by Adam Ferguson for TIME The evidence, however, is already apparent: microplastics found in the flesh of almost every marine species tested; certain plastic chemicals identified in drinking water; others in the leaves of plants irrigated by polluted streams. —

By Aryn Baker/lautoka, Fiji , TIME, 3 July 2024 And as for microplastics, keep an eye out for evolving research. —

David Oliver, USA TODAY, 27 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for microplastic

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'microplastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.