propellant

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​pel·​lant prə-ˈpe-lənt How to pronounce propellant (audio)
variants or less commonly propellent
: capable of propelling

propellant

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly propellent
: something that propels: such as
a
: an explosive for propelling projectiles
b
: fuel plus oxidizer used by a rocket engine
c
: a gas kept under pressure in a bottle or can for expelling the contents when the pressure is released

Examples of propellant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The four propellant tanks on Blue Ghost are arranged in a diagonal configuration, with two containing hydrazine fuel and two holding an oxidizer called nitrogen tetroxide. Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025 Senior vehicle operations manager Cliff Lanham with NASA ground systems said the teams have addressed all the gremlins that popped up in the months before the launch of Artemis I, including leaks in the propellant lines that flowed into the rocket. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
The critical task of producing propellant on Mars for a return trip to Earth would also require huge amounts of electricity, roughly 25 to 30 kilowatts, likely requiring nuclear power plants, Hoffman said. Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025 Starship upgrades In a statement, SpaceX said the Flight 7 explosion was probably caused by a leak in the aft — or rear — section of the vehicle, near a tank that holds super-chilled liquid oxygen, or LOX, a type of rocket propellant. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for propellant

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin prōpellent-, prōpellens, present participle of prōpellere "to push or thrust forward, compel to go onward" — more at propel

Noun

in part noun derivative of propellant entry 1, in part from propel + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1654, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of propellant was in 1644

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Propellant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propellant. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

propellant

noun
pro·​pel·​lant
variants also propellent
prə-ˈpel-ənt
: something that propels: as
a
: fuel plus a chemical to supply oxygen used by a rocket engine
b
: a gas under pressure in a can for expelling the contents when the pressure is released
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!