absorbent

American  

[ab-sawr-buhnt, -zawr-] / æbˈsɔr bənt, -ˈzɔr- /

adjective

1. capable of absorbing heat, light, moisture, etc.; tending to absorb.

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noun

1. something that absorbs.

   Tons of high-powered absorbents were needed to clean up the oil spill.

absorbent British  

/ əbˈsɔːbənt, -ˈzɔː- /

adjective

1. able to absorb

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noun

1. a substance that absorbs

Other Word Forms

• absorbency noun
• nonabsorbency noun
• nonabsorbent adjective
• preabsorbent adjective
• semiabsorbent adjective
• unabsorbent adjective

Etymology

Origin of absorbent

First recorded in 1710–20, absorbent is from the Latin word absorbent- (stem of absorbēns, present participle of absorbēre ). See absorb, -ent

Example Sentences

By 2028, Unicharm aims to recycle the plastic and absorbent polymer from soiled diapers to make new ones as well, Tsutomu Kido, senior executive officer of Unicharm's recycling business, told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

And then, of course, there is the absorbent core—which holds what scientists refer to as the “insult.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Cleanup teams are skimming and pumping oil from the tributary and deploying absorbent booms and pads to recover oil trapped along the creek bed.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

The conclusion to take from that is either the world economy is more shock absorbent than thought or it is just a matter of timing, with the real pain ahead.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2025

The nurse pulled her to her feet at the end and wrapped her in a huge, absorbent sheet.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks