Standard Lemma guide

ionization

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • īənĭzā'shən
  • /ˌaɪənɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AY2 AH0 N AH0 Z EY1 SH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any process that leads to the dissociation of a neutral atom or molecule into charged particles ions; the state of being ionized.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative form of Ionicization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the process of ionizing; the formation of ions by separating atoms or molecules or radicals or by adding or subtracting electrons from atoms by strong electric fields in a gas

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ionisation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: natural process, natural action, action, activity

4

noun

Meaning 4

the condition of being dissociated into ions (as by heat or radiation or chemical reaction or electrical discharge)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the ionization of a gas

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ionisation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: condition, status

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ey- Proto-Indo-European *h1éyti Proto-Hellenic *éimi Ancient Greek ἰόν (ión)der. English ion Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English ionize Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English ionization From ionize + -ation.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: йонизация (jonizacija) — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Catalan: ionització — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Czech: ionizace — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Finnish: ionisaatio — any process that leads to dissociation
  • French: ionisation — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Georgian: იონიზაცია (ionizacia) — any process that leads to dissociation
  • German: Ionisation — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Hindi: आयनन (āynan) — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Hindi: आयनीकरण (āynīkraṇ) — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Icelandic: jónun — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Irish: ianú — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Irish: ianúchán — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Italian: ionizzazione — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Japanese: イオン化 (ionka) — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Japanese: 電離 (denri) — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Māori: whakakatotetanga — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Polish: jonizacja — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Portuguese: ionização — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Romanian: ionizare — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Romanian: ionizație — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Russian: иониза́ция (ionizácija) — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Serbo-Croatian: јонизација — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Serbo-Croatian: jonizacija — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Spanish: ionización — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Swedish: jonisering — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Tagalog: sadagipik — any process that leads to dissociation
  • Telugu: అయనీకరణం (ayanīkaraṇaṁ) — any process that leads to dissociation