reducing agent

noun

: a substance that reduces a chemical compound usually by donating electrons

Examples of reducing agent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The system can process different grades of iron ore and use either natural gas or hydrogen as the reducing agent. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026

The researchers first treated the cotton with sodium dithionite, a reducing agent, before bleaching it with hydrogen peroxide under alkaline conditions. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Why Steel Production Is So Carbon-Intensive Traditional steelmaking relies heavily on coal, particularly in blast furnaces where coal serves as both fuel and reducing agent to convert iron ore into iron. — Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Pipeline operators may also employ more incremental remedies, such as moving oil faster through the pipelines by injecting drag-reducing agents or increasing the number of pump stations. — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reducing agent

• newsagent
• reagent
• subagent

Medical Definition

reducing agent

noun

: a substance that reduces

especially : a substance (as hydrogen, sodium, or hydroquinone) that donates electrons or a share in its electrons to another substance

called also reductant

compare oxidizing agent