accelerant

American  

[ak-sel-er-uhnt] / ækˈsɛl ər ənt /

noun

1. something that speeds up a process.

2. Chemistry. accelerator.

3. a substance that accelerates the spread of fire or makes a fire more intense.

   Arson was suspected when police found accelerants at the scene of the fire.

---

accelerant British  

/ ækˈsɛlərənt /

noun

1. chem another name for accelerator

---

accelerant Scientific  

/ ăk-sĕl′ər-ənt /

1. A substance, such as a petroleum distillate, that is used as a catalyst, as in spreading an intentionally set fire.

---

Etymology

Origin of accelerant

1915–20; < Latin accelerant- (stem of accelerāns ) hastening (present participle of accelerāre ). See accelerate

Example Sentences

It would be naive to say that wasn’t an accelerant.

From Slate

The chatbots, it added, had become a "powerful accelerant for harm."

From Barron's

The race to AGI is a primary accelerant of this struggle.

From Barron's

Chief Executive David Ellison said in a letter to shareholders that the company views Warner as “an accelerant” to achieving its goals more quickly.

From The Wall Street Journal

The only mention of the ongoing fight was in Paramount‘s letter to shareholders, which noted that the company was “confident” in its standalone strategy and growth trajectory, but that adding Warner would be an “accelerant to achieving these goals more quickly” and in a way that would be “economically compelling” for Paramount’s shareholders.

From Los Angeles Times