neoprene

neoprene ‎(countable and uncountable, plural neoprenes)

1. A synthetic rubber, a polymer of chloroprene, commonly used in wetsuits, laptop sleeves, orthopedic braces, electrical insulation, liquid and sheet-applied elastomeric membranes and flashings, car fan belts, etc.

neoprene 

Pronunciation: /ˈniːə(ʊ)priːn/ 

NOUN

[MASS NOUN]

A synthetic polymer resembling rubber, resistant to oil, heat, and weathering.

Example sentences

Origin

1930s: from neo- 'new' + prene (perhaps from propyl + -ene), on the pattern of words such as chloroprene.

Etymology[edit]

US, 1930s; genericized trademark for DuPont brand of polychloroprene. neo- ‎(“new”) +‎ isoprene (dropping the iso-), the latter from terpene. Originally called duprene (blend of DuPont and isoprene); the “new” is because neoprene was the first mass-produced general-purpose synthetic rubber.