incapacitant

American

[in-kuh-pas-i-tuhnt] / ˌɪn kəˈpæs ɪ tənt /

noun

something, as a chemical spray, that incapacitates an individual.

to use incapacitants for riot control.

incapacitant British

/ ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪtənt /

noun

a substance that can temporarily incapacitate a person, used esp as a weapon in chemical warfare

"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

Etymology

Origin of incapacitant

First recorded in 1960–65; incapacit(ate) + -ant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

incapacitant

He added that officers had better and more effective equipment, and had stronger incapacitant spray, as well as water cannon "which they didn't have to fire up".

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2025

PC Beynon deployed her Pava incapacitant spray "at least twice", Det Sgt Jones said.

From BBC ● May 27, 2025

Prison officers currently only carry an extendable baton and Pava incapacitant spray - synthetic pepper spray.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2025

Three officers used their incapacitant sprays within 35 seconds of arriving at the scene.

From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2022

To most observers, the team of six constables in attendance would look completely ordinary, with batons, handcuffs and incapacitant spray attached to their belts.

From The Guardian ● May 23, 2020

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023