reactant

noun

re·​ac·​tant rē-ˈak-tənt How to pronounce reactant (audio)
: a substance that enters into and is altered in the course of a chemical reaction

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web According to one study, there are actually five levels of boredom: indifferent, calibrating, searching, reactant, and apathetic. Joey Camire, Quartz, 21 Mar. 2020 For our purposes, level three (searching) and level four (reactant) are the most relevant. Joey Camire, Quartz, 21 Mar. 2020 The Chinese scientists added polyethylene glycol into the reactant mix when building their COF compound, which effectively bridged the porous spaces to create a version that was much more compact and flexible. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 July 2019 Nasal swabs would be collected from a patient, placed into a tube and mixed with a reactant. Anna Bauman, SFChronicle.com, 29 Jan. 2020 Modern suits come equipped with tiny, microscopic balls of heat-reactant chemicals that helped protect astronauts from the frigid temps. Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 22 Nov. 2019 Each bubble contains its own set of reactants, which can be coalesced by driving the bubbles together. Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 26 July 2019 In this case, the researchers flow the reactants through the chamber in a single direction, and the nanotubes grow along the same direction as that flow. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 15 May 2018 This was accomplished through a variant of a standard technique called chemical vapor deposition, in which the reactants that generate the nanotube are present in the atmosphere of the reaction chamber. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 15 May 2018 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reactant was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near reactant

Cite this Entry

“Reactant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactant. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

reactant

noun
re·​ac·​tant rē-ˈak-tənt How to pronounce reactant (audio)
: a substance that enters into and is changed by a chemical reaction

Medical Definition

reactant

noun
re·​ac·​tant -tənt How to pronounce reactant (audio)
: a substance that enters into and is altered in the course of a chemical reaction
reactant adjective

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