flocculent
adjective
floc·cu·lent
ˈflä-kyə-lənt 
1
: resembling wool especially in loose fluffy organization
2
: containing, consisting of, or occurring in the form of loosely aggregated particles or soft flakes
a flocculent precipitate
Examples of flocculent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a new image of NGC 5530, which is classified as a flocculent spiral galaxy due to its patchy and indistinct arms, according to a statement from the European Space Agency (ESA).
—
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The snow begins as motes, which aggregate into dense, flocculent flakes that gradually sink and drift past the mouths (and mouth-like apparatuses) of scavengers farther down.
—New York Times, 3 Apr. 2022
The aluminum ski that is mounted under the sample basket, in front of the sub, and that helps keep the sub off the bottom, had been leaving a clean track in the soft, flocculent mud.
—Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
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.
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The snow begins as motes, which aggregate into dense, flocculent flakes that gradually sink and drift past the mouths (and mouth-like apparatuses) of scavengers farther down.
—New York Times, 3 Apr. 2022
The aluminum ski that is mounted under the sample basket, in front of the sub, and that helps keep the sub off the bottom, had been leaving a clean track in the soft, flocculent mud.
—Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Flocculent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flocculent. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
flocculent
adjective
floc·cu·lent
-yə-lənt
: made up of loosely aggregated particles
a flocculent precipitate
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share