English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

noun Uncommon

nylon

NEYE-lon

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Nylon (noun) means a strong, synthetic polymer used to make fabric, rope, and plastic parts. Example: “The tent was made of lightweight nylon.”

noun

1

A strong, synthetic polymer used to make fabric, rope, and plastic parts.

"The tent was made of lightweight nylon."

2

A sheer stocking made from this material (usually plural).

"She pulled on a fresh pair of nylons before the interview."

How to use nylon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tough man-made fabric/plastic material, or stockings made from it.

Common pairings

nylon rope nylon stockings nylon fabric

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: nylons

Test yourself on “nylon” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The tent was made of lightweight _____.

Etymology

Coined by the DuPont company in 1938; the exact origin of the syllable "nyl-" is disputed, but it was joined to the fibre-name ending "-on" seen in rayon and Dacron.

· First attested 1938

Class of 1938 nylon joined the language around 1938.

cline hoon

See the full Class of 1938 →

Rhymes for nylon

pylon Cylon Ceylon Waylon Babylon

See all rhymes for nylon →

Frequently asked questions

What does “nylon” mean?

The word “nylon” means a strong, synthetic polymer used to make fabric, rope, and plastic parts. In plain terms, a tough man-made fabric/plastic material, or stockings made from it.

How do you pronounce “nylon”?

“Nylon” is pronounced NEYE-lon (/ˈnaɪlɑn/ in IPA).

How do you use “nylon” in a sentence?

Here is “nylon” used in a sentence: “The tent was made of lightweight nylon.”

What part of speech is “nylon”?

“Nylon” is a noun.

Where does the word “nylon” come from?

The word “nylon” dates back to around 1938. Coined by the DuPont company in 1938; the exact origin of the syllable "nyl-" is disputed, but it was joined to the fibre-name ending "-on" seen in rayon and Dacron.

Is “nylon” a common word?

“Nylon” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “nylon” have?

“Nylon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong, synthetic polymer used to make fabric, rope, and plastic parts.

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