What does plastically mean?
Plastically is an adverb chiefly used in technical discussions of materials, especially metals, polymers, and other substances that can undergo permanent deformation. It describes an action performed in a plastic manner, usually meaning that the material changes shape without cracking and does not recover its original dimensions after the applied force is removed. The phrase “plastically deform” is the most common modern construction, while the adverb can also describe a mouldable or malleable substance. In ordinary conversation, “plastically” may sound unusual, and a simpler word such as “in a mouldable way” may be clearer when the technical distinction is not important. Its specialized use nevertheless captures an important concept in materials science: deformation that remains after the cause of the deformation has been removed.
adverbIn a manner involving plastic or plastic deformation. The word is chiefly used in technical contexts involving materials.
- In a manner involving plastic deformation or mouldability.
"The polymer is plastically deformed when sufficient stress is applied beyond its yield point."
"At high temperatures, the metal plastically deforms rather than fracturing."
"The artist used plastically malleable clay to form the figures."
A material can deform plastically: bend without returning to its original shape once the force is removed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does plastically come from?
The adverb was formed from the English word plastic, which in turn comes through Latin plasticus, meaning “mouldable” or “fitted for moulding,” from Greek plastikos, derived from plastē, meaning “to mould.” The modern technical sense developed alongside the study of materials and their response to stress. The same root is reflected in words such as plasticity and plastification.
How plastically is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon, chiefly technical adverb. It is most often used with verbs such as deform and deformable; outside specialist writing, its intended sense may need to be made explicit.
Easily confused with plastically
Plastic is the adjective or noun, while plastically is the adverb describing an action or manner.
Plasticity is the noun naming the capacity of a material to undergo plastic deformation, whereas plastically describes how such deformation occurs.