radiolysis

noun

ra·​di·​ol·​y·​sis ˌrā-dē-ˈä-lə-səs How to pronounce radiolysis (audio)
: chemical decomposition by the action of radiation
radiolytic
ˌrā-dē-ə-ˈli-tik How to pronounce radiolysis (audio)
adjective

Examples of radiolysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This can happen as a result of a chemical reaction between water and iron-rich rocks, or by radiolysis, the splitting of water molecules by radiation into hydrogen and oxygen. — Marta Abbà, WIRED, 20 Aug. 2024 Cassini's data show that molecular oxygen (O2) forms inside the moon's surface ice when water molecules (H2O) are split by energetic ions, a process known as radiolysis. — Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2010

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of radiolysis was in 1948

Rhymes for radiolysis

See All Rhymes for radiolysis

Browse Nearby Words

radiolysis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Radiolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radiolysis. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

radiolysis

noun
ra·​di·​ol·​y·​sis ˌrād-ē-ˈäl-ə-səs How to pronounce radiolysis (audio)
plural radiolyses -ˌsēz How to pronounce radiolysis (audio)
: chemical decomposition by the action of radiation compare photolysis

More from Merriam-Webster on radiolysis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about radiolysis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
number-twelve-balloon
12-Letter Words Quiz A dozen words, a dozen letters each.
See All