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
Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024
Development of Intuitive Machines' Nova C lander took years longer than anticipated; there were setbacks such as a propellant tank failure, and money was at times tight.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024
Michael Sheetz, NBC News, 13 Oct. 2024
With no propellant in the tank, the Europa Clipper weighs about 7,145 pounds.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for propellant 
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Adjective
SpaceX plans to test a method to refill Starship's propellant tanks in orbit, which would allow the vehicle to reach even greater distances in space.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024
Development of Intuitive Machines' Nova C lander took years longer than anticipated; there were setbacks such as a propellant tank failure, and money was at times tight.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024
Noun
The full system requires more than 10 million pounds of propellant for launch.
—Michael Sheetz, NBC News, 13 Oct. 2024
With no propellant in the tank, the Europa Clipper weighs about 7,145 pounds.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for propellant
Dictionary Entries Near propellant
Cite this Entry
“Propellant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propellant. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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