variants
or less commonly propellent
: something that propels: such as
a
: an explosive for propelling projectiles
b
: fuel plus oxidizer used by a rocket engine
c
: a gas kept under pressure in a bottle or can for expelling the contents when the pressure is released
Examples of propellant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 19 June 2025
While SpaceX engineers worked on resolving the propellant leak on the ground, a leak of another kind in orbit forced officials to order a longer delay to the Ax-4 mission.
—ArsTechnica, 13 June 2025
ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
Some scientists believe that rocket propellant may play a part in the formation of high altitude 'night shining' noctilucent clouds - a phenomenon that is more common at northerly altitudes, but has been spotted manifesting closer to the equator in recent decades.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for propellant
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Adjective
As previously reported by PEOPLE, while the vehicle successfully reached the Earth's orbit, an apparent propellant leak caused a loss of altitude.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 19 June 2025
While SpaceX engineers worked on resolving the propellant leak on the ground, a leak of another kind in orbit forced officials to order a longer delay to the Ax-4 mission.
—ArsTechnica, 13 June 2025
Noun
The propellant packed inside the booster is also different, using a mix that Northrop packs inside its commercial rocket motors instead of the recipe used for the space shuttle.
—ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
Some scientists believe that rocket propellant may play a part in the formation of high altitude 'night shining' noctilucent clouds - a phenomenon that is more common at northerly altitudes, but has been spotted manifesting closer to the equator in recent decades.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for propellant
Cite this Entry
“Propellant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propellant. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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