/ hjuːˈmektənt; NAmE also ˈjuː-/ noun ( technical )
1.
a substance added to foods to stop them from becoming dry
2.
a substance added to skin cream to stop your skin from being dry
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent. (denoting a moistening agent): from Latin humectant- moistening, from the verb humectare , from humectus moist, wet, from humere be moist.