pro-oxidant
|pro-ox-i-dant|
🇺🇸
/ˌproʊˈɑksɪdənt/
🇬🇧
/ˌprəʊˈɒksɪdənt/
causes oxidation
Etymology
'pro-oxidant' is formed from the prefix 'pro-' (from Latin 'pro', meaning 'for' or 'forward') and 'oxidant', which comes from French 'oxydant' ultimately related to Greek 'oxys' meaning 'sharp' or 'acid'.
'oxidant' entered English via French 'oxydant' and Modern Latin technical formations; the compound 'pro-oxidant' arose in 20th-century scientific usage by adding the prefix 'pro-' to denote promotion of oxidation.
Originally roots related to 'oxys' referred to 'sharp' or 'acidic'; over time 'oxidant' developed the chemical sense 'a substance that oxidizes,' and 'pro-oxidant' came to mean 'something that promotes oxidation.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance or agent that promotes oxidation or increases the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals), often contributing to oxidative damage.
Under certain conditions, vitamin C can act as a pro-oxidant rather than an antioxidant.
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Adjective 1
having the property of promoting oxidation; causing or enhancing oxidative processes.
A pro-oxidant effect was observed in the cell culture experiments.
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Last updated: 2025/11/10 08:44