refrigerant

American  

[ri-frij-er-uhnt] / rɪˈfrɪdʒ ər ənt /

adjective

1. refrigerating; cooling.

2. reducing bodily heat or fever.

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noun

1. a refrigerant agent, as a drug.

2. a liquid capable of vaporizing at a low temperature, as ammonia, used in mechanical refrigeration.

3. a cooling substance, as ice or solid carbon dioxide, used in a refrigerator.

refrigerant British  

/ rɪˈfrɪdʒərənt /

noun

1. a fluid capable of changes of phase at low temperatures: used as the working fluid of a refrigerator

2. a cooling substance, such as ice or solid carbon dioxide

3. med an agent that provides a sensation of coolness or reduces fever

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adjective

1. causing cooling or freezing

refrigerant Scientific  

/ rĭ-frĭj′ər-ənt /

1. A substance, such as ice or ammonia, used to cool something by absorbing heat from it. Refrigerants are usually substances that evaporate quickly. In the process of evaporation they draw heat from surrounding substances.

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Other Word Forms

• nonrefrigerant
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of refrigerant

1590–1600; < Latin refrīgerant- (stem of refrīgerāns ), present participle of refrīgerāre. See refrigerate, -ant

Example Sentences

Refrigerant sales grew 19%, nuclear sales grew 27%, and electronic materials sales grew 21%.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Refrigerant sales were a standout at $560 million, up 20% year over year.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

Refrigerant that cannot be reused goes through a very high-temperature process called pyrolysis so the gases are destroyed.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2023

Refrigerant management, developing wind turbines and reducing food waste top Drawdown’s impact list, but other ideas less obviously tied to the environment also are included, such as the education of women and girls.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2019

Refrigerant, rē-frij′ė-rant, adj. making cold: cooling: refreshing.—n. that which cools.—v.t.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Related Words

• container