detergent
adjective
de·​ter·​gent
| \ di-ˈtər-jənt
\
\
Definition of detergent
(Entry 1 of 2)
: that cleanses : cleansing
a detergent oil
detergent
nounDefinition of detergent (Entry 2 of 2)
: a cleansing agent: such as
a
: soap
b
: any of numerous synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparations that are chemically different from soaps but are able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in suspension, and act as wetting agents
c
: an oil-soluble substance that holds insoluble foreign matter in suspension and is used in lubricating oils and dry-cleaning solvents
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Examples of detergent in a Sentence
Noun
We have tried different laundry detergents. add the detergent to the washing machine before putting in the clothesRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
Consider additional accommodations, such as extra blankets, privacy and fresh sheets that have been cleaned with an odorless detergent to avoid skin irritations. — Christen A. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Think again about keeping your bed to yourself when overnight guests stay — especially if they’re older," 7 Sep. 2019 The Shanghai outlet is in a suburban district, aiming to cater to car-driving shoppers willing to load up with bulk items such as 30-pack boxes of cookies or 200-fluid-ounce (6-liter) bottles of detergent. — Nisha Gopalan, Fortune, "Why Costco Might Survive China’s Rocky Retail Scene," 28 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detergent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for detergent
detergent
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of detergent
: a powder or liquid that is used to clean clothes, dishes, etc. : a chemical substance that is like soap
See the full definition for detergent in the English Language Learners Dictionary
detergent
noun
de·​ter·​gent
| \ di-ˈtər-jənt
\
\
Kids Definition of detergent
: a substance that cleans
detergent
adjective
de·​ter·​gent
| \ di-ˈtər-jənt
\
\
Medical Definition of detergent
(Entry 1 of 2)
: having a cleansing action
detergent
nounMedical Definition of detergent (Entry 2 of 2)
: a cleansing agent: as
a
: soap sense 1
b
: any of numerous synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparations that are chemically different from soaps but are able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in suspension, and act as wetting agents
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