depolymerize

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/diːˈpɒlɪməɹaɪz/

verb

To decompose a polymer into smaller fragments.

OriginEnglish polymerize ← Ancient Greek μέρος (méros) ← Proto-Hellenic *(h)méros →
Scrabble 29
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Meanings

verbdepolymerize (third-person singular simple present depolymerizes, present participle depolymerizing, simple past and past participle depolymerized)

present singular third person depolymerizes · participle present depolymerizing · participle past depolymerized · past depolymerized

  1. chemistryTo decompose a polymer into smaller fragments.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*de
  2. Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
  3. Proto-Italic*dē
  4. Latindē
  5. Latindē-
  6. Englishde-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  9. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  10. Englishpoly-
  11. Proto-Indo-European*(s)mer-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*(s)méros
  13. Proto-Hellenic*(h)méros
  14. Ancient Greekμέρος (méros)
  15. Englishpolymer
  16. Englishpolymerize
  17. Englishdepolymerize

From de- + polymerize.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

depolymerize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/depolymerize

MLA

“depolymerize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/depolymerize. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “depolymerize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/depolymerize.

Source: depolymerize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.