\ ˈpä-lē
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plural polys\ ˈpä-lēz
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Definition of poly
(Entry 1 of 3)
: a polymerized plastic or something made of this
especially
: a polyester fiber, fabric, or garment
poly
adjectiveDefinition of poly (Entry 2 of 3)
informal
: polyamorous
"Everybody up there's poly, you know? … You can love more than one person at a time."— Donald Harstad … when you're in a poly relationship, you have to have a higher baseline of communication – you have to deal with problems right away.— Heather Nicoll
poly-
combining formDefinition of poly- (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: many : several : much : multi-
polychotomous polygyny
2a
: containing an indefinite number more than one of a (specified) substance
polysulfide
b
: polymeric : polymer of a (specified) monomer
polyethylene polyadenylic acid
Examples of poly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Homebody night owls could even partake, tuning into cable-access TV to watch roly-poly libertine Jim Spagnola dance naked. — oregonlive.com, "Sex, drugs and police corruption in Portland: How the wild 1970s paved the way to the city’s future," 1 July 2019 Supporting pups 25 pounds and under, the all-weather shell sports a cut out, a cushioned base, soft straps, and a cross-poly durable exterior. — Rachel King, Fortune, "Tips and Treats for Stress-Free Travel With Pets," 27 July 2019 The touches of the poly-master, who died 500 years ago this May, include an intricate, intertwining wall-to-ceiling fresco. — Michael J. Bailey, BostonGlobe.com, "In Milan, a low-tech saunter through a mecca of high fashion," 18 June 2019 The cotton-poly material also shows an awareness of the seasons. — Brittany Loggins, NBC News, "11 perfect outfits for your summer job interview (that won't break the bank!)," 20 June 2019 Our bookbag is a zippered, black, water-resistant poly-canvas. — The Reader's Catalog, "New York Review of Books Bookbag," 17 June 2019 The name Polyphemus comes from the Greek poly, meaning many, and pheme, meaning speech, reputation, or fame. — Ferris Jabr, Harper's magazine, "The Story of Storytelling," 10 Mar. 2019 This is not to say poly and nitro produce no tonal differences. — Henry Robertson, Popular Mechanics, "Can Guitar Paint Affect Your Tone?," 31 Dec. 2018 Another emerging threat to Michigan’s water quality: the discovery of toxic chemicals known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at dozens of locations around the state. — John Flesher, The Seattle Times, "Michigan governor revamps environmental agency after Flint," 4 Feb. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'poly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for poly
poly-
prefixKids Definition of poly-
: many : much : multi-
polymer
poly
noun
\ ˈpäl-ē
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plural polys\ -ēz
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Medical Definition of poly
: a polymorphonuclear leukocyte