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Definition of retardant

retardant

/rɪˈtɑːr.dənt/
re · tard · ant
Plural:retardants
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retardant Lexical Profile

retardant Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A chemical substance or agent used to slow down or prevent a physical or chemical process, particularly combustion or the spread of fire.

Example

"Firefighters dropped thousands of gallons of chemical retardant along the ridge to contain the wildfire."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adjective

1

Preventing, slowing down, or delaying a process or reaction, especially the spread of fire.

Example

"The children's pajamas are made from a specially treated, flame-retardant fabric."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for retardant

• Nearby Words

retama
retape
retard
retardant
retardation
retarded
retarget

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century from the verb 'retard' (from Latin retardare, meaning 'to make slow') and the suffix '-ant', modeled on French retardant.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Retardant. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/retardant
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