catalyst

[ kat-l-ist ]

noun

1. Chemistry. a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.
2. something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.
3. 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.

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

catalyst

/ ˈkætəlɪst /

noun

1. See inhibitor
   a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself suffering any permanent chemical change Compare inhibitor
2. a person or thing that causes a change

catalyst

/ kăt′l-ĭst /

1. 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.

catalyst

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

Notes

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

Other Words From

• self-cata·lyst noun
• semi·cata·lyst noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of catalyst¹

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

Example Sentences

South Africa provides 84% of the platinum group metals needed for fuel cells and automotive catalysts.

From 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!”

From Fortune

Floyd’s death was the catalyst for this year’s earlier protests, and Blake’s shooting reignited the demonstrations.

From 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.

From Washington Blade

Brittney Sykes is a defensive catalyst for the Sparks and dramatically improved her efficiency from two.

From FiveThirtyEight

But the copper performs another important function: working as a catalyst in the distillation process.

From The Daily Beast

Brunch is a catalyst, brunch is the enforcer of different-rules-for-the-weekend.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Other non-design services, like Adobe Business Catalyst, which hosts email fundraising campaigns and e-commerce, also went down.

From The Daily Beast

And that question is the catalyst for all the ambiguity throughout the film.

From The Daily Beast

This simple act may have been the catalyst which gave Burl the solution to the problem.

From Project Gutenberg

We may, then, compare the catalyst to what is known as "a good mixer" in society.

From Project Gutenberg

The tactful hostess, the salon leader, is a social catalyst.

From Project Gutenberg

When hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with a catalyst, such as permanganate of potash, it breaks down into oxygen and water.

From Project Gutenberg

The catalyst which was necessary for the final reaction would be brought to him by Polter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• impetus
• incentive
• motivation
• stimulant