adjective
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capable of meeting financial obligations
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(of a substance, esp a liquid) capable of dissolving another substance
noun
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a liquid capable of dissolving another substance
water is a solvent for salt
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the component of a solution that does not change its state in forming the solution or the component that is present in excess Compare solute
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something that solves
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of solvent
First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin solvent-, stem of solvēns “loosening,” present participle of solvere “to loosen, release”; see solve
Explanation
Solvent’s meaning changes pretty drastically depending on its part of speech. As a noun, solvent is either a certain kind of chemical or an idea that solves a problem. As an adjective, solvent describes someone who's got cash on hand. A solvent dissolves other chemicals, which is why it's also easy to remember: solvent is a chemical used to dissolve other chemicals. The adjective solvent, on the other hand, comes from a French verb that means "loosen." During tough economic times, only those banks that are solvent are in a position to loosen the cash flow and start lending money. No cash? You're not solvent.
Vocabulary lists containing solvent
Stroke of Genius: Words About Painting
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"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury
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"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury (1950)
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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.
The U.S., not so roughly handled, suffered a 21% fall in share prices and 100 failed banks in comparison to 3,400 solvent survivors.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Instead, it relies on the unique way lithium ions interact with water molecules inside a solvent that changes behavior depending on temperature.
From Science Daily • May 23, 2026
The Social Security trustees projected that this package of adjustments would keep the system solvent for the next 75 years.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
Treasury, Emirati firms handle by far the world’s highest volume of Iran’s shadow funds, exploiting opaque registries and lax rules to keep Tehran solvent.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026
“Are you sure the business is sound? It seems strange to me that a solvent business cannot pay its employees promptly.”
From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
