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catalyst

[ kat-l-ist ]

/ ˈkæt l ɪst /

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See synonyms for: catalyst / catalysts on Thesaurus.com

Definition of catalyst

noun

Chemistry. a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.

something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.

a person or thing that precipitates an event or change: His imprisonment by the government served as the catalyst that helped transform social unrest into revolution.

a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic.

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Can A Person Be A Catalyst?

A catalyst means "something that causes activity, an event, or change." And usually, these events and changes are big. But, can a catalyst be a person?

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Origin of catalyst

First recorded in 1900–05; cataly(sis) + (-i)st

OTHER WORDS FROM catalyst

self-cat·a·lyst, nounsem·i·cat·a·lyst, noun

Words nearby catalyst

Catalonian, catalpa, catalufa, catalyse, catalysis, catalyst, catalytic, catalytic converter, catalytic cracker, catalytic cracking, catalyze

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use catalyst in a sentence

South Africa provides 84% of the platinum group metals needed for fuel cells and automotive catalysts.
Europe relies on foreign raw materials to power its green and digital future. Now it wants to mine them at home|David Meyer|September 3, 2020|Fortune
That time spent in Ghana and across West and sub-Saharan Africa became my catalyst for starting Tala, and I regularly encourage my team members to take on a “figure it out!”
The advice that helped this year’s 40 under 40 find their own path|kdunn6|September 3, 2020|Fortune
Floyd’s death was the catalyst for this year’s earlier protests, and Blake’s shooting reignited the demonstrations.
Violent protests against police brutality in the ’60s and ’90s changed public opinion|German Lopez|August 28, 2020|Vox
So, more than anything, the endorsement was a catalyst for us to actually say let’s do something, we don’t have to sit around and wait on what are we going to do, endorse or not endorse.
Log Cabin’s new project seeks to duplicate success of Grenell video|Chris Johnson|August 26, 2020|Washington Blade

Brittney Sykes is a defensive catalyst for the Sparks and dramatically improved her efficiency from two.
There’s No WNBA All-Star Game This Year, But We Picked The Rosters Anyway|Howard Megdal|August 26, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
But the copper performs another important function: working as a catalyst in the distillation process.
When It Comes to Great Whisky, The Size of Your Still Matters||December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brunch is a catalyst, brunch is the enforcer of different-rules-for-the-weekend.
Don’t Diss the Beauty of Brunch: Defending Our Favorite Meal|Tim Teeman|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We are proud that our film could be a catalyst for even a small change in the ways these boys are treated in China.
China Doesn't Want You to See the Internet Addiction Film 'Web Junkie'|Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other non-design services, like Adobe Business Catalyst, which hosts email fundraising campaigns and e-commerce, also went down.
Adobe’s ‘Creative Cloud’ Goes Offline—and Takes a Million Designers With It|Kyle Chayka|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And that question is the catalyst for all the ambiguity throughout the film.
How ‘Transcendence’ Director Wally Pfister Became Christopher Nolan’s Secret Weapon|Andrew Romano|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This simple act may have been the catalyst which gave Burl the solution to the problem.
The Forgotten Planet|Murray Leinster
We may, then, compare the catalyst to what is known as "a good mixer" in society.
Creative Chemistry|Edwin E. Slosson
The tactful hostess, the salon leader, is a social catalyst.
Creative Chemistry|Edwin E. Slosson
When hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with a catalyst, such as permanganate of potash, it breaks down into oxygen and water.
Operation: Outer Space|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
The catalyst which was necessary for the final reaction would be brought to him by Polter.
Beyond the Vanishing Point|Raymond King Cummings

British Dictionary definitions for catalyst

catalyst

/ (ˈkætəlɪst) /

noun

a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself suffering any permanent chemical changeCompare inhibitor (def. 2)

a person or thing that causes a change

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for catalyst

catalyst

[ kăt′l-ĭst ]

n.

A substance, usually used in small amounts relative to the reactants, that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.

Other words from catalyst

cat′a•lyt′ic (kăt′l-ĭt′ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for catalyst

catalyst

[ kăt′l-ĭst ]

A substance that starts or speeds up a chemical reaction while undergoing no permanent change itself. The enzymes in saliva, for example, are catalysts in digestion.

Other words from catalyst

catalytic adjective (kăt′l-ĭt′ĭk)

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for catalyst

catalyst

[ (kat-uh-list) ]

In chemistry, a substance that causes a chemical reaction to occur but is not itself involved in the reaction.

notes for catalyst

The term catalyst is often used to refer to the prime agent of any change: “She was the catalyst for the reorganization.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.