noun

styrofoam

STEYE-ruh-fohm

Styrofoam (noun) means a lightweight rigid foam plastic used for insulation, packaging, and disposable cups. Example: “The coffee came in a Styrofoam cup.”

noun

A lightweight rigid foam plastic used for insulation, packaging, and disposable cups.

"The coffee came in a Styrofoam cup."

"They packed the fragile vase in Styrofoam for shipping."

How to use styrofoam

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe white foam material used in cups, coolers, and packaging.

Common mistake

Technically a trademark, but almost universally used as a generic term for expanded polystyrene foam.

Common pairings

Styrofoam cup Styrofoam packaging

Word forms

styrofoams plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The coffee came in a _____ cup.

Etymology

Originally a trademarked brand name for expanded polystyrene foam, now used generically for the material.

Rhymes for styrofoam

foam roam Noam

See all rhymes for styrofoam →

Frequently asked questions

What does “styrofoam” mean?

The word “styrofoam” means a lightweight rigid foam plastic used for insulation, packaging, and disposable cups. In plain terms, the white foam material used in cups, coolers, and packaging.

How do you pronounce “styrofoam”?

“Styrofoam” is pronounced STEYE-ruh-fohm (/ˈstaɪ.ɹə.foʊm/ in IPA).

How do you use “styrofoam” in a sentence?

Here is “styrofoam” used in a sentence: “The coffee came in a Styrofoam cup.”

What part of speech is “styrofoam”?

“Styrofoam” is a noun.