noun
- a chemical agent that breaks up or scatters substances, especially oil spills in water
Usage: technical; environmental science
Examples
- The Coast Guard applied dispersant to break up the oil spill.
- Chemical dispersants help scatter oil into smaller droplets.
- Environmental groups questioned the safety of using dispersants in the ocean.
- The dispersant made the oil less visible but didn’t eliminate it.
- Scientists studied the long-term effects of dispersant use on marine life.
- Emergency crews deployed dispersant from aircraft over the contaminated area.