flame retardant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical, Regulatory, Consumer Safety
Quick answer
What does “flame retardant” mean?
A substance that slows or prevents the spread of fire.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substance that slows or prevents the spread of fire.
Can refer to the property of resisting combustion (adjective) or the chemical agent itself (noun). Figuratively used to describe someone or something that calms a volatile situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation differences are minor. The concept and terminology are identical. 'Fire retardant' is also common in both, with 'flame retardant' being slightly more specific to manufactured materials.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both. In recent years, associated with health and environmental concerns (e.g., PFAS chemicals).
Frequency
Equally frequent in technical/safety contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “flame retardant” in a Sentence
[noun] is treated with a flame retardant[noun] has flame-retardant propertiesto make [noun] flame retardantto apply a flame retardant to [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flame retardant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fabric is treated to flame-retard it.
- We need to flame-retard these theatre curtains to meet safety codes.
American English
- The new formula effectively flame-retards the insulation.
- They flame-retarded the military uniforms.
adverb
British English
- The material performed flame-retardantly in the test.
- Rarely used.
American English
- Rarely used; 'in a flame-retardant manner' is more common but awkward.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"All our upholstered products comply with the latest flame-retardant regulations."
Academic
"The study analysed the environmental persistence of brominated flame retardants."
Everyday
"These children's pyjamas are labelled as flame retardant for safety."
Technical
"The polymer was compounded with 15% ammonium polyphosphate as a flame retardant."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flame retardant”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flame retardant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flame retardant”
- Using 'flame retarding' as a noun (use 'flame retardant').
- Hyphenation inconsistency: 'flame retardant' (noun) vs. 'flame-retardant' (adjective before noun).
- Confusing 'flame retardant' (slows fire) with 'fireproof' (resists fire entirely).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Flame retardant' means it resists ignition and slows fire spread. 'Fireproof' suggests complete and absolute resistance to fire, which is rare for most materials.
It depends on its role in the sentence. Use a hyphen when it functions as a compound adjective before a noun (flame-retardant fabric). No hyphen when used as a noun (a flame retardant) or after a verb (the fabric is flame retardant).
This is a complex regulatory and scientific issue. Many traditional flame retardants are considered safe when properly used, but specific chemical classes (e.g., some brominated compounds) have been restricted due to environmental and health risks. Safety depends on the specific chemical and application.
Yes, though it's not extremely common. It can describe a person or action that prevents a heated argument from escalating (e.g., "Her calm demeanour acted as a flame retardant during the tense meeting.").
A substance that slows or prevents the spread of fire.
Flame retardant is usually technical, regulatory, consumer safety in register.
Flame retardant: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfleɪm rɪˈtɑː.dənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfleɪm rɪˈtɑːr.dənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to be) a flame retardant in a situation (figurative: to de-escalate conflict)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FLAME being RETARDED (slowed down) by a protective barrier. It's not stopped, but its progress is hindered.
Conceptual Metaphor
FIRE IS A FAST MOVER / A flame retardant is a BRAKE or OBSTACLE for fire.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a flame retardant?