What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fixative
Example
I sprayed fixative on my charcoal drawing to prevent smudging. [fixative: noun]
Example
She used hairspray as a fixative to keep her hairstyle in place. [fixative: adjective]
stabilizer
Example
The stabilizer in the ice cream kept it from melting too quickly. [stabilizer: noun]
Example
The camera's image stabilizer helped to reduce shaky footage. [stabilizer: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stabilizer is more commonly used than fixative in everyday language, especially in the food industry. Fixative is less common and is mainly used in the art and microscopy fields.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fixative and stabilizer?
Fixative and stabilizer are both technical terms and are more formal in nature. However, stabilizer is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while fixative is more specific and is mainly used in formal or technical contexts.
