paraben


par·a·ben

P5060140 (păr′ə-bĕn′)n. Any of various esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid that have bactericidal or fungicidal properties and are therefore used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
[para(-hydroxy)ben(zoic acid).]

paraben

(ˈpærəˌbɛn) n (Chemistry) any ester of parahydroxybenzoic acid, some of which are used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and have been found in breast cancer tumours