Polymer that lowers the surface tension of the medium in which it is dissolved, or the interfacial tension with another phase, or both.
See also: surfactant
Source:
PAC, 2004, 76, 889. 'Definitions of terms relating to reactions of polymers and to functional polymeric materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2003)' on page 903 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200476040889)