What does "elastic" mean?
An elastic material used in clothing, particularly in waistbands and cuffs.
Elastic
/əˈlæstɪk/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An elastic material used in clothing, particularly in waistbands and cuffs.
- Grammar: elastic is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accommodating, adaptable, adaptable, adaptive.
- Useful contrasts: anelastic, inelastic, nonelastic.
- Usage evidence: A rubber ball bounces because it is elastic.
How to use "elastic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "elastic" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "elastic" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "elastic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "elastic" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "elastic" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accommodating" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "elastic", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An elastic material used in clothing, particularly in waistbands and cuffs. uncountable
"running shorts use elastic to eliminate the need for a belt"
- 2 a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material wordnet
- 3 An elastic band. Canada, countable
- 4 a narrow band of elastic rubber used to hold things (such as papers) together wordnet
- 5 Specifically, a hair tie. Northeastern, US, countable, uncountable
Adjective
- 1 Capable of stretching; particularly, capable of stretching so as to return to an original shape or size when force is released.
"The rope is somewhat elastic, so expect it to give when you pull on it."
- 2 Made of elastic.
"elastic band"
- 3 Of clothing, elasticated.
- 4 Sensitive to changes in price.
"Demand for entertainment is more elastic than demand for energy."
- 5 springy; bouncy; vivacious
"He could see that she was tastefully, though not richly, dressed, and that she walked with an elastic step that revealed a light heart and the vigor of perfect health. Her face, of course, he could not analyze, since he had caught only the one brief but convincing glimpse of it."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Pervasive, all-encompassing.
"It was now about six o'clock, and that first freshness was on the air, which is to the day what youth is to life,—so light, so elastic, so sweet, and so brief:..."
- 7 Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks and trials.
"elastic spirits; an elastic constitution"
Adjective
- 1 capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy wordnet
- 2 able to adjust readily to different conditions wordnet
Example
"A rubber ball bounces because it is elastic."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "elastic"?
Common synonyms include: accommodating, adaptable, adaptable, adaptive, adjustable, airy.
How do you use "elastic" in a sentence?
A rubber ball bounces because it is elastic.
How do you pronounce "elastic"?
Pronounced /əˈlæstɪk/.
Etymology
From French élastique, from New Latin elasticus (“elastic”), from Ancient Greek ἐλαστός (elastós), alternative form of ἐλατός (elatós, “ductile”) (cf. ἐλατήρ (elatḗr, “a driver, hurler”)), from ἐλαύνω (elaúnō, “to drive, set in motion, push, strike, beat out”).