absorbent

American  

[ab-sawr-buhnt, -zawr-] / æbˈsɔr bənt, -ˈzɔr- /

adjective

1. capable of absorbing heat, light, moisture, etc.; tending to absorb.

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noun

1. something that absorbs.

   Tons of high-powered absorbents were needed to clean up the oil spill.

absorbent British  

/ əbˈsɔːbənt, -ˈzɔː- /

adjective

1. able to absorb

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noun

1. a substance that absorbs

Other Word Forms

• absorbency noun
• nonabsorbency noun
• nonabsorbent adjective
• preabsorbent adjective
• semiabsorbent adjective
• unabsorbent adjective

Etymology

Origin of absorbent

First recorded in 1710–20, absorbent is from the Latin word absorbent- (stem of absorbēns, present participle of absorbēre ). See absorb, -ent

Example Sentences

When exposed to a focused beam of electrons, specific regions of the film become more or less absorbent.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

By 2028, Unicharm aims to recycle the plastic and absorbent polymer from soiled diapers to make new ones as well, Tsutomu Kido, senior executive officer of Unicharm's recycling business, told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

And then, of course, there is the absorbent core—which holds what scientists refer to as the “insult.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The pads are made from cotton and an absorbent towel-like material to line them.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

“Excellent, except the crocks are absorbent and are sopping up all the juice.”

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George