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resistant
/rɪˈzɪs.tənt/
opposing change or action
Some bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics.
Some bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics due to genetic changes.
Medicine
technical
having an active resistance to something, especially a disease or treatment
The virus is resistant to the new drug.
The virus does not respond to the new drug.
Commonly used in medical and biological contexts to describe organisms or materials that withstand external forces or treatments.
general
unwilling to accept or comply with something
She was resistant to the idea of moving abroad for work.
She refused to accept the idea of moving abroad for work.
Used in social or psychological contexts to describe people's attitudes or behaviors.
Engineering
technical
capable of withstanding damage or wear
The material is resistant to corrosion.
The material does not corrode easily.
Used in engineering and materials science to describe durability.
Collocations
resistant to changeopposing or refusing changesheat-resistantable to withstand high temperatureswater-resistantable to repel water
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Collocations
Pair 'resistant' with 'to' and a noun (e.g., resistant to antibiotics, resistant to change). Avoid using 'resistant' alone without specifying what it resists.
Gold Rule
Avoid Redundancy
Do not use 'resistant' with words like 'immune' or 'unaffected' in the same sentence, as they convey similar meanings (e.g., avoid 'She is resistant and immune to the virus').
Word Origin
From Latin *resistent-* (stem of *resistens*), present participle of *resistere* 'to resist', from *re-* 'back' + *sistere* 'to stand'.
Usage Notes
The word 'resistant' is often followed by 'to' when describing what something resists (e.g., resistant to heat). It can also be used in compound adjectives (e.g., fire-resistant, rust-resistant).
Word Breakdown
re-
back, against
prefix-sist-
stand
root-ent
performing a specified action
suffixEnglish Dictionary