Dispersant

A dispersant, comprising:

• a hydrolysate of a lignocellulosic material;
• and
• at least one selected from the group consisting of:
• (A) at least one of a sodium a poly(meth)acrylate, sodium gluconate,
• and a partially neutralized metal salt of a poly(meth)acrylic acid,
• (B) a compound having an acid group and a polyalkylene glycol chain,
• and
• (C) a compound having a sulfonic acid group, a salt thereof, or both, wherein:
• the hydrolysate comprises an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, or both, and a lignin;
• a contained amount of the oligosaccharide, the polysaccharide, or both, in the hydrolysate is 50% by weight to 80% by weight relative to a solid content of a hydrolysate;
• and
• a contained amount of the lignin in the hydrolysate is 1 to 10% by weight relative to the solid content of the hydrolysate.