accelerant

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​ant ik-ˈse-lə-rənt 

ak-

: a substance used to accelerate a process (such as the spreading of a fire)

Examples of accelerant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The fireworks were in a shopping cart, which the man doused with an accelerant and lit on fire, according to those sources. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 20 July 2026

People who feel safe ask questions sooner—that's the real onboarding accelerant. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

The ingredient makes your skin more susceptible to sun damage, which is already one of the main accelerants of epidermal aging. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 16 June 2026

Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set and found evidence consistent with the use of an accelerant. — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

acceler(ate) + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above