Definition

A substance that causes another substance to lose electrons or hydrogen, often resulting in a chemical reaction.

Example

Oxygen is a common oxidant that helps in the combustion process.

Conversation

I've been reading about how an oxidant can affect our health.

Really? I didn't know oxidants were that important.

Yeah, they can actually help in some chemical reactions.

That's interesting! I should learn more about them.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oxidant is formed from "oxid" (from Latin "oxydare", meaning to combine with oxygen) and "-ant" (a suffix used to form nouns indicating an agent). The word "oxidant" refers to a substance that causes oxidation, meaning it facilitates the combination with oxygen.

Memory Tip

Think of 'oxid' as relating to oxygen and '-ant' indicating an agent, so an oxidant is something that helps substances combine with oxygen.

Visually Confused Words