Meaning & use
polyethylene glycol
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablechemistry
A water-soluble synthetic polymer used in many products, including medicines, cosmetics and industrial materials, and often taken as a laxative.
Grammar: Used as a mass noun: a dose of polyethylene glycol.
Patterns
- polyethylene glycol powder
- a solution of polyethylene glycol
The doctor suggested polyethylene glycol to relieve the patient's constipation.
Polyethylene glycol is listed as an ingredient in the lotion.
Researchers coated the particles with polyethylene glycol so they would dissolve more easily.
Common combinations
- polyethylene glycol powder
- Mix the polyethylene glycol powder with a glass of water.
- polyethylene glycol solution
- The polyethylene glycol solution cleared the patient's bowel before surgery.
- take polyethylene glycol
- She was told to take polyethylene glycol once a day.
- polyethylene glycol laxative
- A polyethylene glycol laxative is available without a prescription in many countries.
- coated with polyethylene glycol
- The tablets are coated with polyethylene glycol.
Synonyms and how they differ
- PEG
- PEG is the standard abbreviation and is used on labels and in labs, while the full name appears in careful writing.
- macrogol
- Macrogol is the name used for the medicine mainly in British and European contexts.
Word family
- polyethylene noun
- the plastic polymer from which the first half of the name comes
- glycol noun
- a type of alcohol compound with two hydroxyl groups
- polymer noun
- a large molecule made of repeating units
- ethylene glycol noun
- a related, toxic liquid used in antifreeze
Commonly confused: polyethylene glycol or ethylene glycol?
polyethylene glycol vs ethylene glycol
Ethylene glycol is poisonous antifreeze. Polyethylene glycol is a different, much safer substance used in medicines.
Practice
What is polyethylene glycol most commonly used for in over-the-counter medicine?
Choose one answer.
Polyethylene glycol is widely sold as a laxative. It is not a painkiller, antibiotic or vitamin.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “polyethylene glycol”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.