dispersant

noun

dis·per·sant di-ˈspər-sənt

: a dispersing agent

especially : a substance for promoting the formation and stabilization of a dispersion of one substance in another

dispersant adjective

Examples of dispersant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The dispersant acts like an oil delivery system, breaking down the crude so the toxic substances can seep through skin. —

Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2015 Corexit dispersants used as a band-aid solution by BP to sink and scatter the oil killed marine life, producing mutations in their offspring. —

Hazlitt, 15 Sep. 2022 By now, more than 650,000 gallons of chemical dispersant have gone into the Gulf of Mexico to try to break up the oil. —

Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2010 Clean-up crews skimmed the water’s surface and sprayed Corexit dispersants, but oil still coats the floor of the salt marshes. —

Hazlitt, 15 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for dispersant

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dispersant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.