hypergolic

American  

[hahy-per-gaw-lik, -gol-ik] / ˌhaɪ pərˈgɔ lɪk, -ˈgɒl ɪk /

adjective

1. (especially of rocket-fuel propellant constituents) igniting spontaneously upon contact with a complementary substance.

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hypergolic British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈɡɒlɪk /

adjective

1. (of a rocket fuel) able to ignite spontaneously on contact with an oxidizer

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hypergolic Scientific  

/ hī′pər-gŏl′ĭk /

1. Relating to or using a rocket propellant consisting of liquid fuel and an oxidizer that ignite spontaneously on contact.

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Etymology

Origin of hypergolic

First recorded in 1945–50; hyp(er)- + erg(o)- ¹ + -ol ² + -ic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hypergolic

When hypergolic propellants burn, they release highly carcinogenic toxins and can cause suffocation and mutate a person’s DNA.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

Both are highly toxic as well as "hypergolic," which means they react violently when in contact with each other.

From Reuters ● Jan. 11, 2022

Also, holding both a large amount of methane or hypergolic chemical internally is explosively problematic.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 2, 2014

The bombardier beetle isn’t the only organism that takes advantage of hypergolic chemicals; we use them in rocket fuel.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 2, 2014

Fully fueled with hypergolic liquids,* the Navy rocket weighs only 700 lbs.; the 1,300-lb. thrust of its engine can easily lift it off the ground.

From Time Magazine Archive