attractant

American  

[uh-trak-tuhnt] / əˈtræk tənt /

noun

1. an attracting agent or substance; lure.

   the sex attractant of the cockroach;

   a synthetic attractant used to bait insect traps.

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attractant British  

/ əˈtræktənt /

noun

1. a substance that attracts, esp a chemical ( sex attractant ) produced by an insect and attracting insects of the same species See also pheromone

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Etymology

Origin of attractant

First recorded in 1810–15; attract + -ant

Example Sentences

In cases of shark encounters, they add, the variable is not the sharks themselves, but rather the attractant that's drawing them to the area.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

Using an attractant like pinene eliminates the need to hunt for the termites.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2024

The trawl-caught halibut appear to be an attractant to the killer whales because they are designated as a prohibited species and must be discarded after they are brought on board.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 24, 2023

“Chemo” stands for “chemoattractant”—it’s the attractant for white blood cells.

From Scientific American • Jun. 21, 2023

The gypsy moth lure was the first insect sex attractant to be synthesized, but probably there will soon be others.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson