Skip to main content
movant

movant

9.9
A person or thing that makes something start to go
  • noun
  • /ˈmoʊvənt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : motor
  • In ancient philosophy, the prime movant was thought to set the universe in motion.

Examples

  • The engineer designed a new movant to power the machine more efficiently.

  • The heavy crate required a strong movant to lift it onto the truck.

  • The movant presented compelling evidence to the court.

  • In this case, the movant is seeking justice.

  • In ancient philosophy, the prime movant was thought to set the universe in motion.

  • The heavy crate required a strong movant to lift it onto the truck.

  • The engineer designed a new movant to power the machine more efficiently.

Synonyms

motor
vsmovant
69 6.0

A person, force, or thing that causes action

is specifically the initiator of physical motion rather than general action
mobilizer
vsmovant
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A machine that moves heavy objects in a factory or warehouse

is a person or thing that initiates motion, not only mechanical devices
displacer
vsmovant
6.8

A person or tool that moves something from its usual place

initiates motion rather than just relocating something's position

How Forceful

explosion
2.8
engine
  • Specialized
1.0
movant
  • Archaic
9.9
to push
1.0
to breeze
1 1.0
nudge
23 3.5

Surface Forms

movant singular
movants plural

Morphology

movant = move (semi-transparent) = move + ant

As an agent noun meaning 'one that causes movement', the formation from 'move' is clear, but the rare/archaic nature of 'movant' makes it less immediately obvious to learners.

Etymology

Movant comes from Latin movēre, 'to move', and is like the everyday word mover or motor. So a movant can be a person or thing that makes movement happen — the one that sets something in motion.