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

His death left a void with this spring’s Titans but also provided an accelerant. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 22 May 2026

The woman told police the dogs were covered in ash and appeared to have some sort of accelerant on their fur, according to the outlets. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 25 May 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

Critics have used the video as a political accelerant for Aurora’s broader recall debate. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

acceler(ate) + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above