sealant

American  

[see-luhnt] / ˈsi lənt /

noun

1. a substance used for sealing, as sealing wax or adhesives.

2. any of various liquids, paints, chemicals, or soft substances that may be applied to a surface or circulated through a system of pipes or the like, drying to form a hard, watertight coating.

3. Dentistry. any of several transparent synthetic resins applied to the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars in young children and teenagers as a preventive measure against tooth decay in the occlusal pits and fissures.

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sealant British  

/ ˈsiːlənt /

noun

1. any substance, such as wax, used for sealing documents, bottles, etc

2. any of a number of substances used for stopping leaks, waterproofing wood, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sealant

1940–45; seal ¹ + -ant, probably by analogy with coolant

Example Sentences

He said, “Leaks to radiators can be very difficult to repair and hopefully this chemical sealant will do the trick.”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

When dealing with the aftermath of a wildfire, Huml said he starts by decontaminating the attic, ripping out soot-infested insulation and using a spray-on odor sealant on porous wood.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2025

Within those pipes, the catalyst could generate a polymer that could act as a sealant to heal cracks in the pipes, which are a common source of methane leakage.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

What ensues is nearly two hours of the false starts and second-guessing that romances use as sealant.

From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2024

We clean off shelves jammed with empty cans of sealant, and half-full cans of paint, and tubs filled with assorted nails and screws.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• adhesive
• mud
• plaster
• sand