spectrophotometer

noun

spec·​tro·​pho·​tom·​e·​ter ˌspek-trō-fə-ˈtä-mə-tər How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
: a photometer for measuring the relative intensities of the light in different parts of a spectrum
spectrophotometric
ˌspek-trə-ˌfō-tə-ˈme-trik How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
adjective
or less commonly spectrophotometrical
ˌspek-trə-ˌfō-tə-ˈme-tri-kəl How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
spectrophotometrically
ˌspek-trə-ˌfō-tə-ˈme-tri-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
adverb

Examples of spectrophotometer 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.
Nowadays eggs can be scanned with electron microscopes and spectrophotometers; they can be genetically sequenced or scraped of their isotopes for carbon dating; they can be scanned and stored and shared in a digital format. — Jules Howard, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024 Testing requires a spectrophotometer that measures how much ultraviolet, visible and infrared light gets through the glasses. — Gina Kolata, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

spectro- + photometer, after French spectrophotomètre or German Spectrophotometer

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spectrophotometer was in 1881

Rhymes for spectrophotometer

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Browse Nearby Words

spectrophotoelectric
spectrophotometer
spectrophotometry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spectrophotometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectrophotometer. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

spectrophotometer

noun
spec·​tro·​pho·​tom·​e·​ter ˌspek-trō-fə-ˈtäm-ət-ər How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
: an instrument for measuring the strengths of the light in different parts of a spectrum

Medical Definition

spectrophotometer

noun
spec·​tro·​pho·​tom·​e·​ter ˌspek-trō-fə-ˈtäm-ət-ər How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
: a photometer for measuring the relative intensities of the light in different parts of a spectrum
spectrophotometric
-trə-ˌfōt-ə-ˈme-trik How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
adjective
spectrophotometrically
-tri-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce spectrophotometer (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on spectrophotometer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spectrophotometer

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