Leclanché cell

noun

A battery (invented and patented in 1866) with an ammonium chloride electrolyte, a carbon cathode, a manganese dioxide depolarizer, and a zinc anode; a self-contained earth battery later adapted to the manufacture of dry cells.

Meanings

nounLeclanché cell (plural Leclanché cells)

plural Leclanché cells

  1. A battery (invented and patented in 1866) with an ammonium chloride electrolyte, a carbon cathode, a manganese dioxide depolarizer, and a zinc anode; a self-contained earth battery later adapted to the manufacture of dry cells.

Origin

Named after French electrical engineer Georges Leclanché (1839–1882).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Leclanché cell. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Leclanch%C3%A9%20cell

MLA

“Leclanché cell.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Leclanch%C3%A9%20cell. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Leclanché cell,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Leclanch%C3%A9%20cell.

Source: Leclanché cell on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.