: a cleansing agent: such as
a
: soap
b
: any of numerous synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparations that are chemically different from soaps but are able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in suspension, and act as wetting agents
c
: an oil-soluble substance that holds insoluble foreign matter in suspension and is used in lubricating oils and dry-cleaning solvents
Examples of detergent in a Sentence
Noun
We have tried different laundry detergents.
add the detergent to the washing machine before putting in the clothes
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
Recharging your dryer balls helps remove detergent residue, while also softening, firming, and refreshing the wool’s natural oils.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Enzymes are key enablers of low-temperature wash performance and can help detergents clean effectively even when consumers reduce wash temperatures.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detergent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Body oils, skincare products, detergent residue, and minerals from hard water can all accumulate within the fibers, too, adding to the sticky mix and leading to towels that feel stiff, smell musty, or further lose absorbency.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
Recharging your dryer balls helps remove detergent residue, while also softening, firming, and refreshing the wool’s natural oils.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026
Noun
While those tests found no contamination, the consultants did not test for a more comprehensive panel of VOCs, including many hazardous contaminants commonly found in the smoke of urban fires that consume homes, cars, paints, detergents and plastics.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Enzymes are key enablers of low-temperature wash performance and can help detergents clean effectively even when consumers reduce wash temperatures.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detergent
Cite this Entry
“Detergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detergent. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detergent
1 of 2 adjective
de·ter·gent
di-ˈtər-jənt 
: able to clean : used in cleansing
detergent oil for engines
detergent
2 of 2 noun
: a substance that cleanses
especially
: a chemical product that is like soap in its ability to cleanse
Medical Definition
detergent
1 of 2 adjective
de·ter·gent
di-ˈtər-jənt
: having a cleansing action
detergent
2 of 2 noun
: a cleansing agent: as
a
b
: any of numerous synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparations that are chemically different from soaps but are able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in suspension, and act as wetting agents
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
