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

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

Period pants are underwear with built-in absorbent layers.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2025

The cotton terry material is absorbent and warm.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2025

My palms are sweating like crazy, but the jeweled dress isn't absorbent and they skid right of if I try to dry them.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins