antiperspirant

[ an-ti-pur-sper-uhnt ]

noun

1. an astringent preparation for reducing perspiration, usually containing aluminum or zirconium and used to prevent body odor and clothing stains.

antiperspirant

/ ˌæntɪˈpɜːspərənt /

noun

1. an astringent substance applied to the skin to reduce or prevent perspiration

adjective

1. reducing or preventing perspiration

Word History and Origins

Origin of antiperspirant¹

First recorded in 1940–45; anti- + perspire + -ant

Example Sentences

First, antiperspirant and deodorant are terms that are often used interchangeably.

From Popular-Science

Which brings us to deodorant and antiperspirants, a $75 billion dollar industry that helps keep all our aromatic secrets to ourselves.

From Time

In this era of rampant oversharing, deodorants and antiperspirants may be delivering a needed dose of privacy from the smelly secrets we would otherwise release into the wild.

From Time

The Joy of Sweat shows how this demand was created by deodorant and antiperspirant makers who sold sweat as a problem in the first place.

From Science News

Everts answers a range of questions throughout about sweat and our history of wanting to control it, including an analysis of the deodorant and antiperspirant industries.

From Time

Related Words

• cleanser
• cosmetic
• disinfectant