WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
im•pel•lent
(im pel′ənt),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
- impelling:an impellent power; an impellent cause.
n.
- something that impels;
an impelling agency or force.
- Latin impellent- (stem of impellēns), present participle of impellere to set in motion. See impel, -ent
- 1610–20