retardant

adjective

re·​tar·​dant ri-ˈtär-dᵊnt How to pronounce retardant (audio)
: serving or tending to retard
a growth-retardant substance
retardant noun

Examples of retardant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In the last two videos, a plane can be seen dumping red fire retardant chemicals over the smoky trees, followed by a dramatic clip of a fire truck driving past massive dark clouds that are seemingly moving towards the road. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2024 Brominated retardant chemicals could be pervasive and readily find many different ways into your body. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 The unit has a durable waterproof steel frame structure with a flame retardant foam wallboard, and according to the brand, the tiny home can withstand elements like high winds and even low-magnitude earthquakes. Toni Sutton, People.com, 29 Sep. 2024 The air resources came from Cal Fire, which dropped retardant from an air tanker and helicopters. Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for retardant 

Word History

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of retardant was in 1642

Dictionary Entries Near retardant

Cite this Entry

“Retardant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retardant. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

retardant

adjective
re·​tar·​dant ri-ˈtärd-ᵊnt How to pronounce retardant (audio)
: serving or tending to retard
flame-retardant fabrics

More from Merriam-Webster on retardant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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