What does it mean if an object is described as buoyant?

When an object is described as buoyant, it refers to the object's ability to float in a fluid, which is primarily determined by its density relative to the fluid. If an object is less dense than the fluid it is placed in, it will float, meaning it is buoyant. The buoyant force acting on the object, which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object, supports it and keeps it from sinking.

In this context, buoyancy is a key principle in physics and applies to various situations, such as boats floating on water or the behavior of balloons in the air. This concept does not pertain to the weight of the object, whether it can be submerged, or its rigidity. Those aspects relate to different physical properties and behaviors.