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Glite Dictionary
flame-retardant

flame-retardant

10 4.9
Not easily set on fire and designed to slow the spread of flames
  • adjective
  • /fleɪm rɪˈtɑrdənt/
  • Specialized
: ignífugo
  • The company decided to use polyetheretherketone polymer, or PEEK, supplied by Victrex USA Inc. of West Chester, Pa., because PEEK is flame-retardant and provides rigidity and strength at very high temperatures.
  • brominated flame-retardant

And these things were flame retardant and it created a cloud of smoke.

Examples

  • The new building materials include flame-retardant panels to enhance safety during a fire.

  • Properly selected resins are used to fabricate reinforced plastic composites for corrosion-resistant, heat-resistant, and flame-retardant applications.

    Academic text (1998)

  • And these things were flame retardant and it created a cloud of smoke.

    Lex Fridman

  • The actual uniform will be flame retardant, which is a good thing, don't you think?

    Forsaking All Others (1934)

  • So, everything they sent us up here with is flame-retardant... with the notable exception of... Martinez's personal items.

    The Martian (2015)

  • If a couch was purchased outside California before 2000, it has a 50 percent chance of containing flame retardant chemicals.

    Blog text (2)

  • Since the tape was used inside the penitentiary to repair things like mattresses, for example, it was essential that it be flame-retardant.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The fabric is flame-retardant, white opaque, 18 to 24 ounce coated polyester scrim.

    Academic text (2001)

  • The firefighters sprayed flame-retardant foam on the area to prevent the fire from spreading.

  • She chose a flame-retardant fabric for her curtains to minimize the risk of fire in her home.

Synonyms

fire-retardant
vsflame-retardant
  • Specialized
6 4.4

Not easy to burn because it has a special treatment

is designed to slow or prevent the spread of flames
fire-resistant
vsflame-retardant
  • Specialized
4 4.1

Not easily burned in a fire

aims to slow flame spread rather than just withstand heat
flameproof
vsflame-retardant
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Hard to burn or set on fire

slows or prevents flame spread rather than only resisting ignition
nonflammable
vsflame-retardant
1 4.1

Does not catch fire or burn easily

is designed to slow or stop flames rather than be fully nonignitable
unburnable
vsflame-retardant
1 4.7

Not able to burn or be set on fire

focuses on reducing flame spread rather than being impossible to burn
fire-resistive
vsflame-retardant
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A material or building that is difficult to burn and able to stay whole in a fire for some time

intends to slow flame spread rather than meet timed resistance standards
fire-resisting
vsflame-retardant
  • Specialized
4.5

Does not burn easily in a fire, for example walls or doors

focuses on slowing flame spread rather than general fire durability

Antonyms

flammable
40 2.8

Able to catch fire and burn quickly

How Fire-Resistant

fireproof
10 4.0
flame-retardant
  • Specialized
10 4.9
fire-resistant
  • Specialized
4 4.1
flammable
40 2.8

Surface Forms

flame-retardant positive

Morphology

flame-retardant = flame + retardant (transparent) = flame + retard + ant

The compound is a straightforward combination of 'flame' + 'retardant' and the meaning ('resistant to flames') follows standard compounding and the internal formation 'retard' + '-ant' is regular.

Etymology

Flame-retardant comes from the parts flame and retardant, where retardant means 'to slow' or 'delay'. Think of it as a 'brake' for fire: it resists catching fire and slows or stops the spread of flames, which is why flame-retardant materials help keep things safer.