Etymologically
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resistant

Etymology and origin of the English word resistant

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
early 15th century
Borrowed from
Latin resistens
Ultimate origin
Latin (resistens)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /rɪˈzɪs.tənt/, /rəˈzɪs.tənt/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin resistēns, present participle of resistere, to make a stand against (see resist),[2][3] and in later use from French résistant.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Making resistance or opposition: the early 15th century as resistent in Etymonline;[2] 1548 in Merriam-Webster, 1610 in the OED.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

The noun, one who resists, is from 1600, later also a member of a resistance movement.[4] Not overcome by a disease or drug is from 1897,[2][4] and compounds such as heat-resistant from 1902.[4]

Timeline

  • early 15th century – resistent.[2]
  • 1548 – resistant.[3]
  • 1600 – a resister (noun).[4]
  • 1897 – resistant to disease or drugs.[2][4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Opposing or resisting something: resistant to change.
  2. Not harmed or affected by something; unaffected by a drug or infection: heat-resistant.

Noun

  1. A person or thing that resists.

Word family

  • resistantly
  • fire-resistant
  • water-resistant
  • antiresistant
  • nonresistant
  • unresistant

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Resistant.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/resistant. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·