catalyst
gb/kˈætəlɪst/ us/kˈætəlɪst/
B2
English
~ 8800
katalizátor, kiváltó ok
NOUN
B2
1
katalizátor
C1
kiváltó ok
B2
Usage pattern:
[something/someone] is a catalyst for [something]
Her speech became the catalyst for a nationwide debate about privacy.
Beszéde a magánszféra védelméről szóló országos vita katalizátora lett.
The financial crisis was the catalyst for major banking reforms.
A pénzügyi válság lett a jelentős banki reformok katalizátora.
Social media acted as a catalyst for the rapid spread of the protest movement.
His arrival was the catalyst for a complete change in the team’s culture.
Rising energy prices served as a catalyst for investment in renewable technologies.
Learner examples
The new law was a catalyst for change in the city.
Az új törvény a változás katalizátora volt a városban.
Her book was a catalyst for an important discussion at school.
A könyve egy fontos iskolai beszélgetés katalizátora volt.
The accident was a catalyst for him to live more carefully.
The internet was a catalyst for new kinds of business.
The teacher’s question was a catalyst for a long class talk.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think “catalyst” is used only in chemistry. In everyday English it is very common in social, political, and business contexts to mean something that starts or speeds up change. Also, the usual preposition is “for” (a catalyst for change), not “of”.
Meaning
person or thing causing major change
Collocations
catalyst for change
|act as a catalyst
|serve as a catalyst
|catalyst for reform
|catalyst for growth
Synonyms
trigger (Suggests the specific event that starts a reaction or process, often more sudden than “catalyst.”)
|
spark (More informal and vivid; often used for the initial moment something begins, not always for a long process.)
Antonyms
obstacle (Something that slows or stops change instead of starting or speeding it up.)
Themes
society
|business
|politics
|change
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
A person or thing that starts a big change or makes it happen faster.
Someone or something that causes an important change to begin, or makes it happen more quickly or strongly.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
katalizátor
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] adds a catalyst to [a reaction]
The reaction proceeds very slowly unless a catalyst is added.
A reakció nagyon lassan megy végbe, ha nem adnak hozzá katalizátort.
Platinum is often used as a catalyst in industrial hydrogenation processes.
Az ipari hidrogénezési eljárásokban gyakran használnak platint katalizátorként.
The enzyme acts as a catalyst, lowering the activation energy of the reaction.
Researchers are trying to develop a cheaper catalyst for water splitting.
Heat alone is not enough; the process also requires a suitable catalyst.
Learner examples
The scientist added a catalyst to the liquid.
A tudós katalizátort adott a folyadékhoz.
This metal works as a catalyst in the reaction.
Ez a fém katalizátorként működik a reakcióban.
An enzyme is a natural catalyst in your body.
Without a catalyst, the reaction is very slow.
The students learned how a catalyst can speed up a reaction.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse “catalyst” with “reactant.” A reactant is changed and used up in the reaction, but a catalyst speeds the reaction and is not used up. Another confusion is between “catalyst” and “reagent”; a reagent may be consumed, while a catalyst typically is not.
Meaning
substance speeding a chemical reaction
Collocations
add a catalyst
|solid catalyst
|enzyme catalyst
|catalyst surface
|catalyst activity
Synonyms
enzyme (A biological type of catalyst made by living cells; used mainly in biochemistry contexts.)
Antonyms
inhibitor (A substance that slows down or stops a chemical reaction, doing the opposite of a catalyst.)
Themes
science
|chemistry
|industry
Definition
A substance that makes a chemical reaction go faster but is not used up in the reaction.
A chemical substance that increases the rate of a reaction without itself undergoing permanent chemical change or being used up.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
katalizátor
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] replaces the car’s catalyst
The mechanic said the catalyst was blocked and needed to be replaced.
A szerelő azt mondta, hogy eltömődött a katalizátor, és ki kell cserélni.
A worn catalyst can cause the car to fail its emissions test.
Egy elhasználódott katalizátor miatt az autó megbukhat a károsanyag-kibocsátási vizsgálaton.
Modern diesel engines rely on a highly efficient catalyst to meet environmental standards.
Learner examples
My car is noisy because the catalyst is broken.
Zajos az autóm, mert elromlott a katalizátor.
The garage will change the old catalyst tomorrow.
A szerviz holnap kicseréli a régi katalizátort.
If the catalyst does not work, the car makes dirty gas.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that, in car repair and engineering contexts, “catalyst” is often shorthand for “catalytic converter,” a specific part of the exhaust system.
Meaning
vehicle device reducing exhaust pollution
Collocations
replace the catalyst
|faulty catalyst
|catalyst efficiency
|catalyst performance
Synonyms
catalytic converter (The full technical name of the same car part; more precise and more common in general usage.)
Antonyms
straight pipe (An exhaust pipe without a catalyst, which does not reduce emissions and is often illegal on public roads.)
Themes
technology
|transport
|environment
|transportation
Definition
A part of a car’s exhaust system that uses chemical reactions to make the gases less harmful.
A device in a vehicle’s exhaust system, informally called a catalyst, that uses catalytic reactions to reduce harmful emissions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
catalyst
IPA
GB/kˈætəlɪst/
US/kˈætəlɪst/
Syllables & stress
cata - lyst (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cata)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: catalyst
- Plural: catalyst, catalysts
Word family
Forms
catalysts
noun
Core family
catalyze
verb
catalytic
adjective
Related words
catalysis
noun
Advanced or less common
catalytically
adverb
Expressions
a catalyst for conflict
1/ə kˈætəlɪst fɚ kˈɑnflɪkt/
fixed phrase
factor sparking conflict
Something that starts a conflict or makes it grow quickly.
Examples
- The border incident became a catalyst for conflict between the two nations.
- Economic hardship can be a catalyst for conflict within communities.
a catalyst for growth
1/ə kˈætəlɪst fɚ ɡɹˈoʊθ/
fixed phrase
factor driving growth
Something that helps a company, economy, or group grow faster.
Examples
- Improved infrastructure can be a catalyst for growth in rural areas.
- Lower interest rates were a major catalyst for growth in the housing market.
a catalyst for innovation
1/ə kˈætəlɪst fɚ ˌɪnəvˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
factor encouraging new ideas
Something that helps new ideas, products, or methods appear or grow more quickly.
Examples
- Competition can be a powerful catalyst for innovation.
- The grant program became a catalyst for innovation in clean energy.
a catalyst for reform
1/ə kˈætəlɪst fɚ ɹɪfˈɔɹm/
fixed phrase
formal
event driving political or legal reform
Something that starts or speeds up changes in laws, systems, or institutions.
Examples
- The scandal was a catalyst for reform in the banking sector.
- Public anger acted as a catalyst for reform of the justice system.
act as a catalyst
1/ˈækt ˈæz ə kˈætəlɪst/
fixed phrase
function in causing change
To have the effect of starting a change or making it happen faster.
Examples
- His questions acted as a catalyst for a deeper discussion.
- The crisis acted as a catalyst, forcing the company to modernize.
be the catalyst for
1/bˈi ðə kˈætəlɪst fɚ/
fixed phrase
be main cause of change
To be the main thing that starts a particular change or process.
Examples
- Her article was the catalyst for a major policy review.
- The storm was the catalyst for improvements in the city’s drainage system.
become a catalyst for
1/bɪkˈʌm ə kˈætəlɪst fɚ/
fixed phrase
come to play catalyst role
To start to have the effect of causing a particular change or process.
Examples
- The small pilot project became a catalyst for wider reform.
- Her story became a catalyst for discussions about mental health at work.
catalyst for change
1/kˈætəlɪst fɚ t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
something that brings important change
Something or someone that starts an important change or makes it happen faster.
Examples
- The report was a catalyst for change in the organization.
- Many hope the election will be a catalyst for change in the country.
provide a catalyst for
1/pɹəvˈaɪd ə kˈætəlɪst fɚ/
fixed phrase
supply factor that starts change
To give or create something that starts a particular change or makes it faster.
Examples
- The new funding provided a catalyst for further research.
- His resignation provided a catalyst for long-delayed changes.
serve as a catalyst
1/sˈɚv ˈæz ə kˈætəlɪst/
fixed phrase
formal
play role in starting change
To play the role of something that starts a change or makes it faster.
Examples
- The new policy served as a catalyst for innovation across the sector.
- Her success story served as a catalyst for other women to start their own businesses.