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Meaning & use

catalyst for change

phrase·Academicfigurative

Last updated

UK/ˌkæt.əl.ɪst fə ˈtʃeɪndʒ/
US/ˌkæt̬.əl.ɪst fɚ ˈtʃeɪndʒ/

Meaning

  1. phrasefixed phrasefigurative

    A person, event or idea that sets off an important change or makes it happen faster.

    Grammar: Used as a noun phrase with an or the: she became a catalyst for change. For is the usual preposition, not of.

    Patterns

    • be a catalyst for change
    • act as a catalyst for change
    • serve as a catalyst for change

    The scandal became a catalyst for change in how the company handles complaints.

    A single teacher can be a catalyst for change in a struggling school.

    The pandemic acted as a catalyst for change in how people work.

Word forms

pluralcatalysts for change

Common combinations

act as a catalyst for change
The report acted as a catalyst for change across the industry.
serve as a catalyst for change
The protest served as a catalyst for change.
powerful catalyst for change
Education can be a powerful catalyst for change.
become a catalyst for change
The new leader became a catalyst for change.
catalyst for social change
The movement was a catalyst for social change.

Synonyms and how they differ

trigger
Trigger suggests a quick spark for something that may be negative, while catalyst for change usually sounds constructive.
driver
Driver implies steady, continuing force, whereas catalyst suggests a starting push.
spur
Spur stresses urging action forward and is slightly more literary than catalyst.
agent of change
Agent of change usually describes a person working deliberately, while a catalyst can be an event or an idea.

Opposites

obstacle to changebrake

Word family

catalyst noun
something that causes or speeds up a change
catalyze verb
to cause or speed up a change
catalytic adjective
causing or speeding a change
catalysis noun
the speeding up of a chemical reaction

Commonly confused: catalyst for change or catalyst of change?

catalyst for change vs catalyst of change

Learners sometimes say catalyst of change, but for is the standard preposition in this phrase.

Practice

Choose the correct preposition: 'The election became a catalyst ___ change in the region.'

Make it your own

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