reactance

R1E1A1C3T1A1N1C3E1

noun

The opposition to the change in flow of current in an alternating current circuit, due to inductance and capacitance; the imaginary part of the impedance. Symbol: X.

OriginEnglish react ← Middle English acte ← Old French act →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

nounreactance (countable and uncountable, plural reactances)

plural reactances

  1. countableuncountableelectricsnatural sciencesThe opposition to the change in flow of current in an alternating current circuit, due to inductance and capacitance; the imaginary part of the impedance. Symbol: X.
  2. countableuncountableA similar effect in magnetism.
  3. countableuncountablehuman sciencesAn emotional reaction in direct contradiction to rules or regulations that threaten or eliminate specific behavioral freedoms.

Origin

  1. Proto-Italic*wre-
  2. Latinre-
  3. Old Frenchre-
  4. Middle Englishre-
  5. Englishre-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eǵ-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éǵeti
  8. Proto-Italic*agō
  9. Latinagō
  10. Latināctus
  11. Latinācta
  12. Old Frenchact
  13. Middle Englishacte
  14. Englishact
  15. Englishreact
  16. Englishreactance

From react + -ance.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish reaktanssi
  • reaktanssiopposition to the change in current
German Blindwiderstand, Reaktanz
  • Blindwiderstandopposition to the change in current
  • Reaktanzopposition to the change in current
Greek άεργη αντίσταση
  • άεργη αντίσταση (áergi antístasi)opposition to the change in current
Indonesian reaktans
  • reaktansopposition to the change in current
Irish imoibríocht
  • imoibríochtopposition to the change in current
Japanese 誘導抵抗
  • 誘導抵抗 (yūdōteikō)opposition to the change in current
Polish reaktancja
  • reaktancjaopposition to the change in current
Romanian reactanță
  • reactanțăopposition to the change in current
Welsh adweithedd
  • adweitheddopposition to the change in current

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

cancerateCretacean
Cite this entry
APA

reactance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reactance

MLA

“reactance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reactance. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reactance,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reactance.

Source: reactance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.