propellant

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​pel·​lant prə-ˈpe-lənt 

variants or less commonly propellent

: capable of propelling

propellant

2 of 2

noun

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

Adjective

The flight program could potentially even include docking two Starships in orbit to demonstrate propellant transfer, and even an uncrewed demo of the Starship Human Landing System, a lunar variant of Starship, that is to be used for NASA's Artemis 3 mission in mid-2027. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Space One's Kairos rocket features three solid-fuel stages and a liquid propellant upper stage. —Brett Tingley, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2024

Noun

The second stage being used for the Hera mission will boost the space probe into deep space, using all of its propellant in the process. —William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2024

While SpaceX normally recovers first stage boosters for refurbishment and reuse, the three core stage boosters and the rocket's second stage needed all of their propellants to accelerate the Clipper to the required Earth-departure velocity. —William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin prōpellent-, prōpellens, present participle of prōpellere "to push or thrust forward, compel to go onward" — more at propel

Noun

in part noun derivative of propellant entry 1, in part from propel + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1654, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

propellant

noun

pro·​pel·​lant

variants also propellent

prə-ˈpel-ənt

: something that propels: as

a

: fuel plus a chemical to supply oxygen used by a rocket engine

b

: a gas under pressure in a can for expelling the contents when the pressure is released