detergent

UK: /dɪˈtɜː^rdʒ^ənt/ US: /dɪˈtɝdʒənt/ ,(di tûr′jənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•ter•gent /dɪˈtɜrdʒənt/   n. 

1. Chemistry a cleansing agent that dissolves easily in water:
   [uncountable] laundry detergent; dish detergent.
   [countable] strong detergents for greasy dishes.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•ter•gent  (di tûr′jənt), n. 

1. Chemistry any of a group of synthetic, organic, liquid or water-soluble cleaning agents that, unlike soap, are not prepared from fats and oils, are not inactivated by hard water, and have wetting-agent and emulsifying-agent properties.
2. Chemistry a similar substance that is oil-soluble and capable of holding insoluble foreign matter in suspension, used in lubricating oils, dry-cleaning preparations, etc.
3. Chemistry any cleansing agent, including soap. Cf. anionic detergent, cationic detergent, synthetic detergent.

adj. 

4. cleansing;
   purging.

• Latin dētergent- (stem of dētergēns) wiping off (present participle of dētergēre). See deterge, -ent
• French)
• (1610–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

detergent / dɪˈtɜːdʒənt/ noun

1. a cleansing agent, esp a surface-active chemical such as an alkyl sulphonate, widely used in industry, laundering, shampoos, etc

adjective
also: detersive / dɪˈtɜːsɪv/

1. having cleansing power

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin dētergēns wiping off; see deterge