resultant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “resultant” mean?
occurring or produced as a consequence or effect of something else.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
occurring or produced as a consequence or effect of something else.
The term refers to something that follows logically from a preceding action, force, or condition, often implying a direct and calculable outcome. In physics, it specifically denotes a single force or vector having the same effect as two or more combined forces acting together.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The word is slightly more frequent in British technical and academic writing.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes formality and precision. It is not typically used in casual conversation.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; high frequency in STEM fields, legal, and formal analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “resultant” in a Sentence
the resultant + NOUN (of)be resultant from + NOUN/PHRASEVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “resultant” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The road was closed due to heavy snow and the resultant traffic chaos.
- They calculated the resultant force on the bridge's central pillar.
American English
- The policy changes and their resultant budget cuts will be felt next quarter.
- The engineers analyzed the resultant stress on the aircraft's wing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports to describe outcomes of strategies or market forces (e.g., 'the resultant profit margin').
Academic
Common in scientific, engineering, and social science papers to describe effects (e.g., 'the resultant data set').
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used in formal discussion of news or events.
Technical
Core term in physics and engineering for combined forces/vectors; also in mathematics and logic.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “resultant”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “resultant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “resultant”
- Using 'resultant' as a noun in place of 'result' (e.g., 'The resultant was surprising.' – Prefer 'The result was surprising.').
- Using it in informal contexts where 'resulting' or just 'result' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but primarily in technical contexts (physics, mathematics) to mean 'a single vector or force representing the sum of others'. In general language, the noun 'result' is strongly preferred.
They are often synonymous. 'Resultant' is more formal and often implies a more direct, logical, or measurable consequence. 'Resulting' is more common in general prose.
No, it is a low-frequency, high-specificity word. It is common in technical and academic registers but rare in everyday conversation.
Stress the second syllable: ri-ZULT-uhnt. The 's' is pronounced as a /z/.
occurring or produced as a consequence or effect of something else.
Resultant is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'resultant'. Often used in the phrase 'and the resultant + NOUN' (e.g., 'The dam burst, and the resultant flood destroyed the village.')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A RESULT is born, and its ANT (agent) is the 'resultant' thing that carries the consequence forward.
Conceptual Metaphor
EFFECT IS A FORCE VECTOR (The combined pressures of events produce a single, new directional outcome).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'resultant' used most correctly?