polyfluoroalkyl

P3O1L1Y4F4L1U1O1R1O1A1L1K5Y4L1

noun

Any polyfluoro derivative of an alkyl group.

Similar
PFA
OriginEnglish alkyl ← Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) ← Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? →
Scrabble 30
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Meanings

nounpolyfluoroalkyl (plural polyfluoroalkyls)

plural polyfluoroalkyls · alternative polyfluoralkyl

  1. especiallyin compoundschemistryAny polyfluoro derivative of an alkyl group.
    1 more example

    After research into foam at the Belgian seaside showing a concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – widely used for their waterproofing qualities but difficult to destroy – the Dutch public health institute RIVM measured the coast in Zeeland, north and south Holland in April and August.

    2023 December 13, Senay Boztas, “Netherlands warns children not to swallow sea foam over PFAS concerns”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

    Synonyms: PFA

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny polyfluoro derivative of an alkyl group.

Similar
PFA

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  3. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  4. Englishpoly-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*bʰel-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰlewH-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*bʰluH-yé-ti?
  8. Latinfluō
  9. Latinfluor
  10. Englishfluor
  11. Englishfluorite
  12. Middle Low Germanspar
  13. Old Englishspærstān
  14. Middle Englishsparston
  15. Englishsparstonebf.
  16. Englishspar
  17. Englishfluorspar
  18. Englishfluorescencebf.
  19. Englishfluoresce
  20. Englishfluor(escent)
  21. Latinō
  22. Old Frenchoh
  23. Middle Englisho
  24. EnglishO
  25. Middle Englisho
  26. Englishoh
  27. Englishfluoro
  28. Englishpolyfluoro
  29. Akkadian𒎎𒋆𒁉𒍣𒁕 (guḫlum)
  30. Aramaicכוחלא (kuḥlā)
  31. Arabicكُحْل (kuḥl)
  32. Andalusian Arabicكُحُول (kuḥūl)
  33. Medieval Latinalcoho
  34. Middle Englishalcofol
  35. Englishalc(ohol)
  36. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  37. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  38. Englishalkyl
  39. Englishpolyfluoroalkyl

From polyfluoro + alkyl, equivalent to poly- + fluoro- + alkyl.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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