propellant

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​pel·​lant prə-ˈpe-lənt 

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

Adjective

This is a high-strength container used to store helium gas, which is critical for pressurizing the rocket’s propellant tanks and ensuring proper fuel flow to its engines. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025

The new ship's propellant tanks have 25 percent more volume than previous iterations of the vehicle, and the payload compartment is somewhat smaller. —Bradley Iger, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2025

Noun

Iran’s largest and most powerful ballistic missiles typically use liquid propellant. —Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025

As a propellant for the story and its 97-minute runtime, switching from a sci-fi-tinged chiller to a crime caper makes sense; the genre advances Companion past its novella premise into something more robust. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for propellant

• appellant
• libellant
• repellant
• repellent

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