resistent

Resistent is an adjective meaning capable of withstanding or opposing a force, influence, or condition. In many languages such as Dutch, German, and Afrikaans, resistent is used with the same sense as English resistant. In English the standard spelling is resistant, and resistent is generally considered a variant, a misspelling, or a loanword in specialized contexts.

Etymology and usage notes imply that resistent derives from Latin resistere, to stand back, with development across several European languages. The term is widely used in technical and scientific contexts, often in compound forms.

In science and technology, the concept appears in biology, medicine, and materials science. Organisms can be resistant to drugs or vaccines, a phenomenon known as drug resistance. Materials can be corrosion-resistant, heat-resistant, or wear-resistant. In electronics, resistance is a property describing how strongly a material opposes current flow, measured in ohms.

In everyday language, something described as resistent is able to withstand a particular condition, such as a heat-resistant jacket or a pest-resistant crop. People or groups may be described as resistant to change, though that usage often emphasizes opposition rather than a physical property.

The term is connected to related words such as resistance and resistant, with nuances depending on context. In English writing, the adjective resistant and the noun resistance are standard forms, and clarity is best achieved by using those conventional spellings. Different languages may retain the form resistent for adjectival use.