dispersant

noun

dis·​per·​sant di-ˈspər-sənt How to pronounce dispersant (audio)
: 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
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.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which began in April 2010, resulted in the release of more than 100 million gallons of petroleum and more than one million gallons of oil dispersant into the Gulf of Mexico, polluting important Kemp’s ridley habitat. Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025 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 In addition, officials used 1.8 million gallons of the chemical dispersant Corexit to break up the oil. Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2015 See All Example Sentences for dispersant

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispersant was in 1941

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispersant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispersant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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