catalyst
noun
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Word History of Catalyst
Catalyst is a fairly recent addition to the English language, first appearing at the start of the 20th century with its chemistry meaning. It was formed from the word catalysis, another chemistry term which refers to a modification and especially an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction induced by material unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction. By the 1940s, the figurative sense of catalyst was in use for someone or something that quickly causes change or action.
Examples of catalyst in a Sentence
Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2025
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill had no time for critics who used officiating as a catalyst for the team’s AFC Championship win or those who complained about the team making the Super Bowl for the third consecutive time.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 27 Jan. 2025
President Trump’s interview on Fox News was widely cited as the catalyst for Hong Kong and Mainland China markets’ outperformance overnight.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Hosting football also has had other impacts such as serving as a catalyst to bring in other big events.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near catalyst
Cite this Entry
“Catalyst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalyst. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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catalyst
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catalyst
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