The following glossary contains terms used commonly in the paint and coatings industry to describe the characteristics, usage and components of paints and coatings.

Abatement: Involves either removal of the painted surface, covering the painted surface with an impermeable surface, or covering surface with heavy-duty coating (encapsulant).

Acrylic: A synthetic resin used in high-performance water-based coatings. A coating in which the binder contains acrylic resins.