propellant

[ pruh-pel-uhnt ]

noun

1. a propelling agent.
2. the charge of explosive used to propel the projectile from a gun.
3. a substance, usually a mixture of fuel and oxidizer, for propelling a rocket.
4. a compressed inert gas that serves to dispense the contents of an aerosol container when the pressure is released.

propellant

/ prəˈpɛlənt /

noun

1. something that provides or causes propulsion, such as the explosive charge in a gun or the fuel in a rocket
2. the gas used to carry the liquid droplets in an aerosol spray

Other Words From

• multi·pro·pellant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of propellant¹

First recorded in 1915–20; propel + -ant

Example Sentences

Helium, an inert gas, is used to push propellants to the spacecraft’s thrusters.

From New York Times

SpaceX says the team have started loading the propellant - or "prop" for short - into Starship.

From BBC

Helium, an inert gas, is used to push propellants to the thrusters, and if too much helium is lost, the thrusters may not work properly.

From New York Times

Specifically, the state accused the agency of knowing about the danger of “accumulated propellant” inside range trailers and failing to “take sufficient steps to prevent the re-occurrence of fires in its indoor mobile shooting ranges.”

From Los Angeles Times

But the Biden administration has prodded Xi’s government over its sale to Russia of so-called dual-use items — components such as machine tools, microelectronics and rocket propellant, which have civilian and military uses.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• booby trap
• detonator
• dynamite
• gunpowder
• mine
• missile
• munition
• powder