propellant

[ pruh-pel-uhnt ]

noun

1. a propelling agent.
2. the charge of explosive used to propel the projectile from a gun.
3. a substance, usually a mixture of fuel and oxidizer, for propelling a rocket.
4. a compressed inert gas that serves to dispense the contents of an aerosol container when the pressure is released.

propellant

/ prəˈpɛlənt /

noun

1. something that provides or causes propulsion, such as the explosive charge in a gun or the fuel in a rocket
2. the gas used to carry the liquid droplets in an aerosol spray

Other Words From

• multi·pro·pellant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of propellant¹

First recorded in 1915–20; propel + -ant

Example Sentences

New space startup bluShift wants to bring a new kind of propellant to the small satellite launching market, with rockets powered by bio-derived rocket fuels.

From TechCrunch

The lander would launch with empty propellant tanks, and once it’s in lunar orbit, two more rockets would launch to carry propellant to the lander.

From Singularity Hub 

The first attempt at such a launch, last May, was aborted because of a faulty propellant line.

From MIT Technology Review

This upper stage then burnt all of its propellant and simulated the deployment of a payload into space.

From Ars Technica

This means that an air-breathing rocket can lift more stuff with less propellant and drastically lower the cost of space access—at least in theory.

From Singularity Hub 

And the solid rocket propellant would not blow up in one explosion since it cannot do that without an oxidizer.

From The Daily Beast

For instance, the one which drives the shell from the gun, known as the propellant, must not be too sudden in its action.

From Project Gutenberg

Clearly, smoke, which is most objectionable in the propellant, is a positive advantage in the bursting charge.

From Project Gutenberg

It is desired that a propellant shall produce the maximum velocity with the minimum pressure.

From Project Gutenberg

Gunpowder is an explosive propellant compound, consisting of saltpetre or nitre, charcoal, and sulphur.

From Project Gutenberg

In army usage the term "propellant" includes both smokeless powder and black powder.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• booby trap
• detonator
• dynamite
• gunpowder
• mine
• missile
• munition
• powder