softener

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Canada, UK/ˈsɒfənər/US/ˈsɔfənər/cot caught merger/ˈsɑfənər/

noun

A water softener.

OriginMiddle English softener →
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounsoftener (plural softeners)

plural softeners

  1. One who, or that which, softens.
    1. A water softener.
    2. Fabric softener.
    3. chemistryA substance added to make something softer.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishsoftener
  2. Englishsoftener

From Middle English softener, equivalent to soften + -er.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese suavizante
  • suavizanteone who, or that which, softens

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

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Cite this entry
APA

softener. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/softener

MLA

“softener.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/softener. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “softener,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/softener.

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