dispersant

noun

dis·​per·​sant di-ˈspər-sənt How to pronounce dispersant (audio)
: a dispersing agent
especially : a substance for promoting the formation and stabilization of a dispersion of one substance in another
dispersant adjective

Examples of dispersant 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.
The dispersant acts like an oil delivery system, breaking down the crude so the toxic substances can seep through skin. — Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2015 Clean-up crews skimmed the water’s surface and sprayed Corexit dispersants, but oil still coats the floor of the salt marshes. — Hazlitt, 15 Sep. 2022 They’re executed in the fitting media of crude oil, contaminants and dispersant. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2025 Only 25% of the oil was recovered, and much of it was forced deeper into the Gulf ecosystem through the use of dispersant, which would likely be used again if another such disaster occurs. — Christian Wagley, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispersant

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispersant was in 1941

Rhymes for dispersant

See All Rhymes for dispersant

Browse Nearby Words

dispersal bay
dispersant
disperse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispersant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispersant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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