paraben

P3A1R1A1B3E1N1

noun

Any of a group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, wherein the hydrogen of a parahydroxybenzene molecule is replaced by an alkyl group

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Meanings

nounparaben (plural parabens)

plural parabens

  1. Any of a group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, wherein the hydrogen of a parahydroxybenzene molecule is replaced by an alkyl group

    I got breast cancer this year, and now avoid products containing parabens.

    2007 February 19, “Products for the Skin (1 Letter)”, in New York Times

Origin

Blend of para- + hydroxybenzoate.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian парабе́н
  • парабе́н (parabén)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

paraben. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paraben

MLA

“paraben.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paraben. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paraben,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paraben.

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