catalyst
🇬🇧 /ˈkætəlɪst/
🇺🇸 /ˈkætələst/
📖 Definitions
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noun
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.; A person or thing that precipitates an event or change; something that causes a significant reaction or transformation.; A person whose presence or actions stimulate others to act or bring about change.; In biochemistry, an enzyme or other biological molecule that accelerates a biochemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
🔗 Details
Word forms
countable
Plural: catalysts
Collocations
act as a catalystcatalyst for changecatalyst for growthserve as a catalystcatalyst for reform
Derivatives
catalyticcatalyzecatalysiscatalytically
Synonyms
stimulustriggerimpetussparkinstigatormotivator
Antonyms
inhibitordeterrenthindrance
Commonly confused
catalyze
EN: 'Catalyze' is the verb form meaning to cause or accelerate a reaction; 'catalyst' is the noun referring to the agent itself.
catalysis
EN: 'Catalysis' is the process or phenomenon of acceleration; 'catalyst' is the substance or agent that causes it.
Spelling tips
EN: Remember it is 'catalyst' with a 'y' before the 's' and 't' at the end, not 'catalist' or 'catylist'. The related verb is 'catalyze' (American) or 'catalyse' (British).
💬 Examples
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Platinum is commonly used as a catalyst in catalytic converters to reduce harmful emissions.
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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the catalyst that triggered World War I.
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She was a catalyst for reform within the organization, inspiring her colleagues to push for better working conditions.
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Enzymes act as catalysts in the human body, speeding up metabolic reactions essential for life.