irritant

[ ir-i-tnt ]
/ ˈɪr ɪ tnt /

adjective

tending to cause irritation; irritating.

noun

anything that irritates.
Physiology, Pathology. a biological, chemical, or physical agent that stimulates a characteristic function or elicits a response, especially an inflammatory response.

Origin of irritant

1630–40; < Latin irrītant- (stem of irrītāns), present participle of irrītāre to irritate; see -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM irritant

ir·ri·tan·cy, noun non·ir·ri·tan·cy, noun non·ir·ri·tant, adjective un·ir·ri·tant, adjective

Words nearby irritant

irriguous, irritability, irritable, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable heart, irritant, irritate, irritated, irritating, irritation, irritation fibroma

British Dictionary definitions for irritancy

irritant
/ (ˈɪrɪtənt) /

adjective

causing irritation; irritating

noun

something irritant

Derived forms of irritant

irritancy, noun

Medical definitions for irritancy

irritant
[ ĭr′ĭ-tənt ]

adj.

Causing irritation, especially physical irritation.

n.

A source of irritation.