What does polymerised mean?
Polymerised means converted into, or having undergone, the formation of a polymer. It is chiefly used in chemistry, materials science, plastics, and manufacturing, where small molecules known as monomers are joined into long chains or networks. The word may describe an active process, as when a liquid monomer polymerises under heat, pressure, or a catalyst, or a completed result, as in “polymerised material.” It is especially associated with British spelling, while American English generally uses “polymerized.” The term is more technical than the everyday verb “polymerise,” although both are common in relevant scientific contexts. Related forms distinguish the substance itself, “polymer,” from the larger chain or network produced, “polymeric,” and from the chemical process itself, “polymerisation.”
verbTo convert a substance into a polymer, or to undergo the chemical process of forming a polymer.
- To convert a substance into a polymer.
- To undergo the chemical process of forming a polymer.
"The catalyst allows the monomers to polymerise under relatively mild conditions."
"Under heat and pressure, the monomer was polymerised into a durable plastic."
"The acrylic fibres polymerise rapidly after being added to the reaction vessel."
From “poly-” meaning many and the Greek for “part,” the word evokes molecules joined into long, repeating chains.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polymerised come from?
The word belongs to the modern scientific vocabulary built from Greek roots: “poly-” means many, and the element related to Greek meros means part. The base noun “polymer” and the process term “polymerisation” were formed from these elements during the development of modern chemistry. The spelling “polymerised” follows the traditional British form with -s-, while “polymerized” is the usual American variant.
Related word forms
How polymerised is actually used
The form with -s- is standard in British English and is also used in technical and scientific writing. American English normally uses “polymerized.” As a past participle, it can also modify a noun, as in “polymerised material.”
Easily confused with polymerised
“Polymerised” is the past tense and past participle of the British spelling “polymerise”; in American English, the corresponding form is “polymerized.”
A polymer is the resulting substance made from repeated linked molecular units, whereas “polymerised” describes the process or the material after that process.