Definition

A substance that helps to spread out particles in a liquid or gas, keeping them evenly distributed and preventing them from settling.

Example

The oil spill was treated with a dispersant to help break up the oil and spread it out in the water.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a dispersant used in paints?

Yeah, I think it helps keep the colors mixed properly.

Exactly! It prevents the pigments from settling at the bottom.

That's really interesting; I didn't know it had such a useful purpose.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dispersant is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "persare" (from Latin, meaning to scatter). The word describes a substance that causes particles to scatter apart in a medium.

Memory Tip

Think of something that makes particles 'scatter apart' — 'dis-' means apart, and 'persare' means to scatter.

Visually Confused Words