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Chemistry. a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.
something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.
a person or thing that precipitates an event or change:
His imprisonment by the government served as the catalyst that helped transform social unrest into revolution.
a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic.
Contemporary Examples

When an exile lasts little more than a four-day weekend, the end result is even blurrier than its catalyst.
Keith Olbermann Is No Journalist Meghan McCain November 6, 2010

The catalyst for a new plan should be the immediate reform and recapitalization of the banking system—with a clear timeframe.
Stop the Bailout: Four Better Alternatives Alan Quasha March 10, 2009

Using the legislation as a catalyst, Bethel residents voted to become “wet” for the first time in 32 years.
Palin’s Booze Hypocrisy Shushannah Walshe January 12, 2010

This dramatic shift could be the catalyst behind a new era in the news business.
The Upside of the Seattle Paper’s End Larry Kramer March 15, 2009

It might have been the catalyst for what got him into trouble with the school administration.
Jackson Doc’s Drug Dealing Past Gerald Posner July 15, 2009

Historical Examples

It plays the part of what is called a “catalyst,” one of the curiosities of chemistry.
The Romance of War Inventions Thomas W. Corbin

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how this approach will act as a catalyst.
A Practical Guide to Self-Hypnosis Melvin Powers

We may, then, compare the catalyst to what is known as “a good mixer” in society.
Creative Chemistry Edwin E. Slosson

I come back soon and gif you the catalyst for that last reaction.
Beyond the Vanishing Point Raymond King Cummings

We can, if we like, dispense with the bacteria and speed up the process by employing a catalyst.
Creative Chemistry Edwin E. Slosson

noun
a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself suffering any permanent chemical change Compare inhibitor (sense 2)
a person or thing that causes a change
n.

“substance which speeds a chemical reaction but itself remains unchanged,” 1902, formed in English (on analogy of analyst) from catalysis. Figurative use by 1943.

catalyst cat·a·lyst (kāt’l-ĭst)
n.
A substance, usually used in small amounts relative to the reactants, that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.
cat’a·lyt’ic (kāt’l-ĭt’ĭk) adj.
catalyst
(kāt’l-ĭst)
A substance that starts or speeds up a chemical reaction while undergoing no permanent change itself. The enzymes in saliva, for example, are catalysts in digestion.

catalytic adjective (kāt’l-ĭt’ĭk)
catalyst [(kat-uh-list)]

In chemistry, a substance that causes a chemical reaction to occur but is not itself involved in the reaction.

Note: The term catalyst is often used to refer to the prime agent of any change: “She was the catalyst for the reorganization.”