resistant

American  

[ri-zis-tuhnt] / rɪˈzɪs tənt /

adjective

1. exhibiting or offering resistance; resisting (often used in combination).

   stain-resistant;

   resistant to change.

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noun

1. a person or thing that resists.

resistant British  

/ rɪˈzɪstənt /

adjective

1. characterized by or showing resistance; resisting

2. 1. impervious to the action of corrosive substances, heat, etc

      a highly resistant surface

   2. ( in combination )

      a heat-resistant surface

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noun

1. a person or thing that resists

Other Word Forms

• antiresistant
  adjective
• unresistant
  adjective
• antiresistantly
  adverb
• resistantly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of resistant

1590–1600; < Middle French resistant, present participle of resister to resist; see -ant

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Explanation

Being resistant means to be immune or impervious to something. A vest that's resistant to bullets is bullet-proof. Anything resistant has a certain power — specifically, the power to resist or fight off — something else. This word is often used medically, like when someone is resistant to a virus: that means they can't get the virus. You can also be resistant to someone's jokes, meaning they can't make you laugh. A raincoat should be resistant to water. If it's not resistant, that's a pretty bad raincoat. All resistant things are like a shield that something can't get through.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

resistant

Midway through the afternoon, I found myself pushing on sadistic, resistant bike pedals while my lungs screamed and a built-in fan blew in my face.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

"You're altering the microbiome of your gut, and perhaps creating antibiotic resistant bacteria in your body that will fight off the drug therapy the next time you really need it," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

And yet I found myself strangely apathetic and at times resistant to participating in any of the hoopla around the Shannon/Narducy ensemble.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

Claire Brosseau, a woman with treatment resistant bipolar 1 disorder who is part of the federal case challenging Canada's current laws, told the BBC earlier this year that euthanasia would offer her "a safe death".

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

The German cockroach throughout much of North America has become resistant to chlordane, once the favorite weapon of exterminators who have now turned to the organic phosphates.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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Related Words

• immune
• invulnerable

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