Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • A trademark for a waxy, opaque material, polytetrafluoroethylene, employed as a coating on cooking utensils and in industrial applications to prevent sticking. This trademark often occurs in figurative contexts in print.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun trademark Multiple film, resin, coatings, fabric and surface protectors made with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or fluoropolymer and surfactants not made with PTFE.
  • adjective informal (of a politician) Having an undamageable reputation (by analogy with nonstick Teflon surfaces).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a material used to coat cooking utensils and in industrial applications where sticking is to be avoided

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Trade name.

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Examples

  • He was acquitted of murder and racketeering twice, earning him the nickname Teflon Don, but was finally convicted in 1992.

    FOXNews.com foxnewsonline@foxnews.com 2011

  • Key has earned the nickname "Teflon John" for the way that nothing politically damaging seems to stick to him.

    KansasCity.com: Front Page 2011

  • Mr Key has earned the nickname "Teflon John" for the way that nothing politically damaging seems to stick to him.

    WalesOnline - Home WalesOnline 2011

  • He was acquitted of murder and racketeering twice, earning him the nickname Teflon Don, but was finally convicted in 1992.

    FOXNews.com Jo Piazza 2011

  • Key has earned the nickname "Teflon John" for the way that nothing politically damaging seems to stick to him.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2011

  • John Travolta has been cast to play John Gotti Sr., the mob family's patriarch who had a flair for style and a knack for avoiding convictions that earned him the name "Teflon Don."

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • Teflon is very durable but will burn off if you get the temperatures too high (take a look at your Teflon coated cookware), though that is not likely to happen on a regular use hunting rifle.

    What is more rust resistant stainless steel or the newer teflon coatings? 2010

  • Teflon is very durable but will burn off if you get the temperatures too high (take a look at your Teflon coated cookware), though that is not likely to happen on a regular use hunting rifle.

    What is more rust resistant stainless steel or the newer teflon coatings? 2010

  • Teflon is from DuPont, so far as I can tell it has nothing to do with NASA either.

    Pancakes from space. 2009

  • Equating Palin at such an early stage of her career to political giants like Reagan and Clinton - whose careers defined the term "Teflon" - is high praise indeed, and based on Palin's strong approval ratings it's obviously warranted.

    FITSNews 2008

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