1. A substance which causes a separation of chemicals in a solution: The students in the laboratory tried several precipitants in an effort to complete their assignment.
2. A reason or cause of a certain event or action: Jane thought that stress was the precipitant of the development of cancer in her breast.

1. Descriptive of something that has been done with great haste and without due deliberation; regarding someone who is impulsive; hurried: The precipitant people, who were a group of workers, suddenly rushed into the conflict and disagreed about how to remodel the apartment building.

When the rabbit jumped out of the grass, the precipitant action of the horse caused the rider to fall off!
2. Referring to an activity done too quickly and impulsively, often resulting in mistakes: The precipitant behavior of the students trying to complete their examination resulted in silly errors.
3. Etymology: from Latin praeciptans, "cast down headlong" from praecaps, "head foremost, headlong"; from prae-, "before" + caput, "head."

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