Definition

A material that prevents the transfer of heat, sound, or electricity.

Example

The builder used a special insulant to keep the house warm in winter.

Conversation

I just bought some new insulant for my home improvement project.

Oh nice! What kind did you get?

It's supposed to be really effective for keeping the heat in.

That sounds great! It's important to have good insulant during winter.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Insulant is formed from "insul" (from Latin "insula", meaning island) and the suffix "-ant" (indicating an agent or something that performs an action). The word refers to a material that acts as an insulator, creating a barrier like an island does against heat or sound.

Memory Tip

Think of an 'island' ('insula') that keeps things separate, just like an insulant keeps heat or sound from passing through.

Visually Confused Words