insulant

8.2

A material like foam that keeps heat, sound, or electricity from passing through

noun
/ˈɪnsələnt/

Specialized

: material aislante

Foam panels are often used as an insulant in building walls to retain heat.

Examples

Rubber acts as an effective insulant against electrical currents.
The engineer chose a new insulant to reduce noise between rooms.
This insulant is effective against both heat and sound.
Many insulants are used in modern construction materials.
Foam panels are often used as an insulant in building walls to retain heat.
Rubber acts as an effective insulant against electrical currents.
The engineer chose a new insulant to reduce noise between rooms.

Synonyms

insulation

vsinsulant

30 4.0

Material that reduces the passage of heat, sound, or electricity

is the specific word for a material that blocks those transfers

insulator

vsinsulant

Specialized

5 4.7

A material like glass that does not let electricity or heat pass through

is broader, also covering materials that block sound as well as heat and electricity

thermal insulation

vsinsulant

Specialized

1 3.8

Material that reduces heat moving between inside and outside

is broader, applying to blocking heat, sound, or electrical transfer not just heat

How Insulating

insulant

Specialized

8.2

conductor

Specialized

14 3.9

Surface Forms

insulant singular

insulants plural

Morphology

insulant = insulate (transparent) = insulate + ant

Formed by adding the productive suffix '-ant' to the verb 'insulate' to denote a thing that performs or results from insulating; meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Insulant comes from the Latin insula, which means 'island'. Think of an insulant as something that makes a tiny 'island' around a wire, wall, or room to keep heat, sound, or electricity out, so an insulant is a material that blocks or reduces their movement.