elastic

elastic — adjective

IPA/ɪˈlæs.tɪk/
KK[ɪlˈæstɪk]IPA/ɪˈlæs.tɪk/
  • elasticpositive
  • more elasticcomparative
  • most elasticsuperlative

1. An elastic material stretches when pulled and then goes back to the way it was b

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

An elastic material stretches when pulled and then goes back to the way it was before — like a rubber band or the stretchy waistband of sports shorts.

Example

Lucía prefers yoga pants made from elastic fabric because they move with her body.

collocation: elastic fabric

The elastic cord on Jude's tent snapped after too many stretches in strong wind.

elastic cord stretches and snaps under tension

Common collocations
  • elastic fabric
  • elastic cord
  • elastic waistband
  • elastic band
  • highly elastic
  • stretch elastic
Synonyms
  • stretchy

    more informal, common in everyday conversation about clothing and fabrics

  • flexible

    broader — can apply to materials or abstract things; does not always imply springing back

  • springy

    suggests a bouncy or lively return motion, often used for foam or hair

Antonyms
  • rigid

    completely stiff, unable to bend or stretch

  • inelastic

    the formal opposite, common in physics and economics

Usage Note

Commonly used as a modifier before nouns: elastic band, elastic fabric, elastic waistband.

Common Mistakes

Rubber is not elastic enough — it breaks when I stretch it.
Rubber is not stretchy enough
it breaks when I pull it.' — 'elastic' describes the property of springing back, not just the ability to stretch; natural rubber is actually elastic, but the sentence confused 'stretchy' with 'strong enough to pull.'

2. An elastic rule, system, or idea can be changed or adjusted to suit different ne

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

An elastic rule, system, or idea can be changed or adjusted to suit different needs or situations, rather than being fixed and strict.

Example

The company's dress code is quite elastic, allowing jeans on most days except for meetings.

elastic dress code / rule — figurative use

Ravindra designed an elastic schedule that could adapt when the team needed more testing time.

elastic schedule = adaptable, not rigid

Common collocations
  • elastic demand
  • elastic budget
  • elastic policy
  • elastic schedule
  • quite elastic
  • elastic enough to
Synonyms
  • flexible

    much more common for abstract senses; 'elastic' sounds more formal or technical

  • adaptable

    emphasises the ability to change to suit new conditions

  • adjustable

    implies someone can actively change it, not that it changes by itself

Antonyms
  • rigid

    strictly fixed, unwilling or unable to change

  • inflexible

    the direct opposite of flexible; often used for rules and policies

Usage Note

Common in academic and business contexts (elastic demand, elastic budget, elastic policy). Distinguish from adj/1: adj/2 describes systems and rules, not physical materials.

Common Mistakes

My new shoes are very elastic so they fit perfectly.
My new shoes are very stretchy so they fit perfectly.
'elastic' as a physical property describes the return to shape, not general flexibility. For comfortable fit, use 'stretchy' or 'flexible.'

elastic — noun

IPA/ɪˈlæstɪk/
KK[ɪlˈæstɪk]IPA/ɪˈlæstɪk/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Elastic, stretchy, flexible, and springy all describe things that can bend or stretch, but they differ in emphasis. Elastic is the most formal and precise term for materials that return to their original shape after deformation — it is the standard word in physics, textiles, and manufacturing. Stretchy is informal and focuses on the ease of stretching rather than the recovery; everyday speakers say 'these leggings are stretchy,' not 'these leggings are elastic.' Flexible is much broader: it applies to materials that bend easily (a flexible plastic ruler) and to abstract things like rules, schedules, and attitudes. Springy suggests a lively bounce-back quality, as in a foam mattress or a fresh lock of hair. For a rubber band that snaps back to its original size, elastic is correct; for comfortable clothing, stretchy sounds more natural in conversation.

elastic ↗stretchy ↗flexible ↗springy ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • elastic band
  • elastic cord
  • elastic fabric
  • elastic waistband
  • elastic demand
  • elastic budget

Adverbs

  • highly elastic
  • very elastic
  • quite elastic
  • fairly elastic

Phrases

  • stretch the elastic
  • sew elastic into
  • lose its elastic

Prepositions

  • elastic enough for
  • elastic around

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

Elastic entered English in the mid-1600s from French 'élastique,' which came from the Greek 'elastos,' meaning 'beaten' or 'ductile.' The Greek root 'elaunein' means 'to drive' or 'to beat out' — originally referring to metal that could be hammered into thin sheets. The modern sense of springing back into shape developed in the 1700s as scientists studied rubber and its unusual properties.