solvent

1 of 2

adjective

sol·​vent ˈsäl-vənt 

ˈsȯl-

1

: able to pay all legal debts

a solvent company

2

: that dissolves or can dissolve

solvent action of water

solvently adverb

solvent

2 of 2

noun

1

: a usually liquid substance capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances

2

: something that provides a solution

3

: something that eliminates or attenuates something especially unwanted

solventless

ˈsäl-vənt-ləs 

ˈsȯl-

adjective

Examples of solvent in a Sentence

Adjective

He couldn't stay solvent after losing his business.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

County and state fiscal oversight agencies insist that nothing has changed in their deep and long-term concerns about whether Los Angeles Unified has the means and the will to remain solvent over the next three years. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

The researchers have already launched the next phase of the project, using DMFSA as the new starting point to discover even smaller and more efficient solvent molecules. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026

Noun

Vinyl chloride is a solvent that can get into children’s toys during the manufacturing process, Bennett explains, and, like benzene, is known to be cancerous. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026

Specifically, that 2001 testing showed the carcinogenic solvent and dry-cleaning chemical perchloroethylene, or PCE, in the soil at levels as high as 6,658 micrograms per liter, said Alysa Pakkidis, information officer for the agency. — Kori McNair, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin solvent-, solvens, present participle of solvere to dissolve, pay

First Known Use

Adjective

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for solvent

• insolvent
• resolvent

Kids Definition

solvent

1 of 2 adjective

sol·​vent ˈsäl-vənt 

ˈsȯl-

: able to pay all legal debts

solvent

2 of 2 noun

: a usually liquid substance capable of dissolving one or more other substances

Medical Definition

solvent

1 of 2 adjective

sol·​vent ˈsäl-vənt, ˈsȯl- 

: that dissolves or can dissolve

solvent fluids

solvent action of water

solvent

2 of 2 noun

: a substance capable of or used in dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances

especially : a liquid component of a solution present in greater amount than the solute

Legal Definition

solvent

adjective

sol·​vent ˈsäl-vənt 

: able to pay all legal debts as they become due