Definition

A material that helps to speed up a process, especially in starting or spreading a fire.

Example

The firefighters discovered that an accelerant had been used to ignite the blaze.

Conversation

Did you hear about the fire at the old warehouse?

Yeah, I heard it was started using some kind of accelerant.

That's crazy! I can't believe they would use something like that.

I know, right? It just makes everything so much more dangerous.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Accelerant → It is formed from "ad-" (meaning to) and "celer" (meaning swift or fast) combined with the suffix "-ant" (indicating an agent or something that performs an action). The word "accelerant" refers to a substance that causes or increases the speed of a reaction, particularly in the context of fire or combustion.

Memory Tip

Think of something that makes a process 'faster' ('celer') — an accelerant is a substance that helps speed things up.

Visually Confused Words