Added 9 October 2026
ferment
/fəˈmɛnt/ noun
In Latin: fermentō Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ferment at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
A state of agitation or turbulent change or development.
the political ferment produced new leadership
- A substance capable of bringing about fermentation.
- A process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol.
verb
Origin
From Middle English ferment, from Middle French ferment, from Latin fermentāre (“to leaven, ferment”), from fermentum (“substance causing fermentation”), possibly from contraction of *fervimentum, from fervēre. See also fervent.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)