1
: able to pay all legal debts
a solvent company
2
: that dissolves or can dissolve
solvent action of water
solvently
adverb
1
: a usually liquid substance capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances
2
: something that provides a solution
3
: something that eliminates or attenuates something especially unwanted
Examples of solvent in a Sentence
Adjective
He couldn't stay solvent after losing his business.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Kostyack, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Under current law, the program is expected to be solvent through 2098, and to begin to pay out benefits starting in July 2026, per state officials.
—Melissa Santos, Axios, 7 Oct. 2024
Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
Methanol is an alcohol chemical commonly used in industrial solvents, cleaning products and fuel, though it can be added to alcoholic drinks either inadvertently through traditional brewing methods or deliberately to boost the volume of alcoholic drinks – usually in the pursuit of profit.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for solvent 
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Adjective
At least 120,000 oil and gas wells across the US have been abandoned by their original owners and lack financially solvent operators.
—John Kostyack, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Under current law, the program is expected to be solvent through 2098, and to begin to pay out benefits starting in July 2026, per state officials.
—Melissa Santos, Axios, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
This process provides independent verification of a product’s potency and purity while alerting users to any unwanted contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents.
—Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
Methanol is an alcohol chemical commonly used in industrial solvents, cleaning products and fuel, though it can be added to alcoholic drinks either inadvertently through traditional brewing methods or deliberately to boost the volume of alcoholic drinks – usually in the pursuit of profit.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for solvent
Dictionary Entries Near solvent
Cite this Entry
“Solvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solvent. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
solvent
1 of 2 adjective
sol·vent
ˈsäl-vənt 
ˈsȯl-
: able to pay all legal debts
solvent
2 of 2 noun
: a usually liquid substance capable of dissolving one or more other substances
Medical Definition
solvent
1 of 2 adjective
sol·vent
ˈsäl-vənt, ˈsȯl-
: that dissolves or can dissolve
solvent fluids
solvent action of water
solvent
2 of 2 noun
: a substance capable of or used in dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances
especially
: a liquid component of a solution present in greater amount than the solute
Legal Definition
solvent
adjective
sol·vent
ˈsäl-vənt
: able to pay all legal debts as they become due
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