retardant

[ ri-tahr-dnt ]

/ rɪˈtɑr dnt /

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noun Chemistry.

any substance capable of reducing the speed of a given reaction.

adjective

retarding or tending to retard (usually used in combination): fire-retardant construction materials.

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Origin of retardant

First recorded in 1635–45; retard + -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM retardant

re·tard·ance, re·tard·an·cy, noun

Words nearby retardant

retake, retaliate, retaliation, retaliatory, retard, retardant, retardate, retardation, retarded, retardee, retarder

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use retardant in a sentence

Helicopters and big air tankers dropped retardant from high above the flames.
Underpaid firefighters, overstretched budgets: The U.S. isn’t prepared for fires fueled by climate change|Sarah Kaplan|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
Its lobbying pushed to add more flame-retardant materials to aircraft.
Flight attendants’ roles have changed, but the stereotypes have not|Liza Weisstuch|May 13, 2021|Washington Post
Her team also sprayed layers of fire retardant paint, both on the front and back of the board to make sure the fire didn’t take over the entire piece.
The Story Behind TIME's 'Climate Is Everything' Cover|D.W. Pine|April 15, 2021|Time
Still only 30% of retardant is dropped within 2,000 yards of a neighborhood, meaning that it stands little chance of saving a life or home.
They Know How to Prevent Megafires. Why Won’t Anybody Listen?|by Elizabeth Weil|August 28, 2020|ProPublica

You can now call in a 747 to drop 19,200 gallons of retardant.
They Know How to Prevent Megafires. Why Won’t Anybody Listen?|by Elizabeth Weil|August 28, 2020|ProPublica

British Dictionary definitions for retardant

retardant

/ (rɪˈtɑːdənt) /

noun

a substance that reduces the rate of a chemical reaction

adjective

having a slowing effect

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