catalyst
/ˈkæt.əl.ɪst/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A catalyst is a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster, without being changed itself. In general English, it is something or someone that causes a change or helps it start.
- Heat acted as a catalyst for the reaction.
- Her speech was a catalyst for change.
Adinary Nuance
A catalyst is not the same as a cause. A cause directly makes something happen, but a catalyst speeds it up or helps it begin. It is also different from a trigger, which starts something suddenly; a catalyst often suggests a process or change over time.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chất xúc tác
- Spanish
- catalizador
- Chinese
- 催化剂
- Japanese
- 触媒
- Korean
- 촉매
Etymology
Catalyst comes from Greek katalysis, meaning “loosening” or “dissolving.” It entered English in the 1600s through scientific writing, then gained the wider meaning of “something that causes change.”
Common phrases
a catalyst for changecatalyst for growthchemical catalystserve as a catalyst
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is catalyst used in science or everyday English?
- Both. In science, it has a precise chemical meaning. In everyday English, it means something that causes change.
- What is the difference between catalyst and cause?
- A cause directly makes something happen. A catalyst helps it happen faster or begin.
- Can a person be called a catalyst?
- Yes. A person can be a catalyst if they help create change or progress.
- Is catalyst formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and common in academic, business, and news writing.