resistant

1 of 2

adjective

re·​sis·​tant ri-ˈzi-stənt 

: giving, capable of, or exhibiting resistance

—often used in combination

wrinkle-resistant clothes

a drug-resistant strain of virus

resistant

2 of 2

noun

: one that resists : resister

Examples of resistant in a Sentence

Adjective

These plants are resistant to cold temperatures.

He became resistant to the medication.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Frenchman is a front-footed middle man who gets stuck into tackles, is relatively press-resistant and will often resort to dribbling to get out of tight spots. —Gregg Evans, New York Times, 13 May 2026

Avoid tracking clumpy sand into your car or hotel room by using a sand-resistant beach blanket in lieu of a towel. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026

The Getty Center survived thanks to decades of investment in fire-resistant engineering — but the Getty is the exception. —Annika Erikson, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026

Ageratum works well as a border plant or in mixed containers and is considered deer and rabbit resistant. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing resistant

• heat resistant
• vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
• water-resistant

Rhymes for resistant

• assistant
• consistent
• existent
• insistent
• persistent
• subsistent
• coexistent
• equidistant
• inconsistent
• nonexistent
• preexistent
• distant

Kids Definition

resistant

adjective

re·​sis·​tant

ri-ˈzis-tənt

: giving, capable of, or showing resistance

—often used in combination

wrinkle-resistant clothes

Medical Definition

resistant

adjective

re·​sis·​tant

variants also resistent

-tənt 

: giving, capable of, or exhibiting resistance

—often used in combination

a drug-resistant strain of virus