formica

IPA/fɔːˈmaɪ.kə/
KK[fɔrmˈaɪkə]IPA/fɔːrˈmaɪ.kə/

formica — noun

1. a hard, smooth plastic material sold under a specific brand name, produced as th

1.nounB1
Definition

a hard, smooth plastic material sold under a specific brand name, produced as thin sheets for covering flat surfaces such as kitchen counters, dining tables, and cabinets

Example

The diner's tables were covered in red-and-white formica that had been there since the 1950s.

uncountable noun used as a material name

Leila wiped the formica kitchen counters with warm soapy water after moving in.

collocation: formica counter

Common collocations
  • formica countertop
  • formica table
  • formica surface
  • formica kitchen
Synonyms
  • laminate

    a broader term for any layered material; formica is a specific brand of plastic laminate

  • plastic laminate

    the general category; more technical, less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

formica + noun (e.g. formica countertop)

Usage Note

Formica is a trademark name often used generically for any similar plastic laminate surface. It is an uncountable noun: you cannot say 'a formica' — instead use 'a formica counter', 'a sheet of formica', or 'made of formica'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a formica for my kitchen.
I bought a formica countertop for my kitchen.
Formica is uncountable; it needs a countable noun like countertop or sheet after it.
The surface is formica.
The surface is made of formica.' or 'It has a formica surface.
A more natural phrasing clarifies it is a material covering.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Formica is a specific brand of plastic laminate, much like Kleenex is a brand of tissue. Laminate is the broader category — any material made by bonding layers together. Plastic laminate specifically refers to laminates made from resin-impregnated paper layers fused under heat and pressure. When speaking casually, people often say 'formica' for any shiny plastic countertop surface, but technically Formica® is one brand among many (Wilsonart, Nevamar, etc.). In writing, use 'laminate' for the general material and reserve 'formica' for contexts where the brand matters or where everyday speech is appropriate.

laminate ↗plastic laminate

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • made of formica
  • covered with formica
  • a sheet of formica

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The name Formica comes from the Latin word formica ('ant'). The company chose the name because their early plastic material was developed as a substitute for mica insulation, and 'for mica' was shortened and respelled as Formica. The product was first used in electrical insulation during the 1910s and later became popular for furniture surfaces after World War II.