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Added 10 October 2026

refractory

/ɹɪˈfɹæk.tə.ɹi/ adjective

Latin root: refractārius Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about refractory at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.
Not affected by great heat.
Resistant to treatment; not responding adequately to therapy.

noun

A material or piece of material, such as a brick, that has a very high melting point.
A plant or factory that produces such material.

Origin

From Latin refractārius (“obstinate”), from refrāctus, past participle of refringere (“to break up”). Originally refractary, refractarie, but reanalysed after other adjectives in -ory.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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