Definition

A substance or person that causes something to start or become active, often by increasing the activity of a process or system.

Example

The activator binds to the promoter region of the gene to enhance transcription.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new activator they released for the experiment?

Yeah, I read that it can really speed up the process!

I think using that activator could make a huge difference in our results.

Absolutely! I'm excited to see how it works in practice.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Activator → It is formed from "act-" (from Latin "agere", meaning to do or to act) and "-ivator" (from Latin "-ator", meaning one who or that which). The word "activator" refers to something that causes or initiates action or activity.

Memory Tip

Think of something that 'causes action' — 'act-' means to do, and '-ivator' indicates something that initiates. An activator is something that gets things moving.

Visually Confused Words