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 Word Forms

• multipropellant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of propellant¹

First recorded in 1915–20; propel + -ant

Example Sentences

It is also used legitimately in the catering industry as a propellant in whipped cream dispensers.

From BBC

They cited a citation from state workplace regulators, who wrote that “accumulated propellant” inside the shooting range posed a fire risk.

From Los Angeles Times

With the war in Ukraine, global demand for explosives and propellants has also been high.

From BBC

Depending on the type of rocket fuel used, launches produce nitrogen oxides, chlorine, black carbon particles, water vapor, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide — and no propellant avoids creating of some kind of emissions.

From Salon

Nitrous oxide also has industrial uses to increase the power of internal combustion engines, and as an aerosol propellant for foods like whipped cream.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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