: an impurity added usually in minute amounts to a pure substance to alter its properties (such as conductivity)

Examples of dopant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The key has been developing processes to add dopants without degrading these properties. New Atlas, 30 Nov. 2024 The nitrogen is present in small quantities as a dopant and may not have a significant influence on the structural measurements done in this new report. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 16 May 2023 So, a lot of people have tried developing dopants—chemicals that can be mixed in small quantities that change the behavior of the bulk material. ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026 In MOSFETs, chipmakers use high heat to make sure dopants are located precisely where they are needed to be in the silicon crystal to create p-n junctions. IEEE Spectrum, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dopant

Word History

Etymology

dope entry 2

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dopant was in 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Dopant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dopant. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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