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Definition of detergent

detergent

/dɪˈtɜːr.dʒənt/
de · ter · gent
Plural:detergents
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detergent Lexical Profile

detergent Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A water-soluble cleansing agent, typically synthetic, that combines with impurities and dirt to make them more soluble and differs from natural soap by not forming scum with the salts in hard water.

Example

"She poured a capful of liquid detergent into the washing machine before starting the heavy cycle."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for detergent

• Nearby Words

dessert
detax
detector
detergent
detian falls
detox
detroit

Word Origin & Etymology

Early 17th century: from Latin 'detergent-', meaning 'wiping away', from the verb 'detergere', formed from 'de-' (away from) + 'tergere' (to wipe).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Detergent. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/detergent
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