reagent
noun
re·agent
rē-ˈā-jənt 
: a substance used (as in detecting or measuring a component, in preparing a product, or in developing photographs) because of its chemical or biological activity
Examples of reagent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Radiological weapons can be detected by a Geiger counter, while chemical weapons can usually be identified by reagents, electronic sensors, and special detection sheets sensitive to things like nerve agents.
—
David Szondy
june 27,
New Atlas,
27 June 2026
Chiang’s team used a liquid reagent made of water and ammonium fluoride — the active chemical in glass etchant — to do the exact opposite.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
Investigators used a latent bloodstain reagent and found that blood had been cleaned up from inside and outside the home, according to the affidavit.
—
Annasofia Scheve,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Apr. 2026
Scientists all over the world use FlyBase every day — to look up gene expression patterns, search through its collection of 87,000 Drosophila papers, or contact other labs to get genetically unique strains of flies or reagents to run new experiments.
—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reagent
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David Szondy
june 27,
New Atlas,
27 June 2026
Chiang’s team used a liquid reagent made of water and ammonium fluoride — the active chemical in glass etchant — to do the exact opposite.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
Investigators used a latent bloodstain reagent and found that blood had been cleaned up from inside and outside the home, according to the affidavit.
—
Annasofia Scheve,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Apr. 2026
Scientists all over the world use FlyBase every day — to look up gene expression patterns, search through its collection of 87,000 Drosophila papers, or contact other labs to get genetically unique strains of flies or reagents to run new experiments.
—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reagent
Cite this Entry
“Reagent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reagent. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
reagent
noun
re·agent
rē-ˈā-jənt
1
: a substance used (as in detecting or measuring a component, in preparing a product, or in developing photographs) because of its chemical or biological activity
2
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