Meanings
- not comparableRelated to radiation; used most often in reference to light, especially in the ultraviolet range.
- broadlynot comparableHarsh and bright, especially blindingly so.
He bounded over cresting waves that shone in the actinic glare.
1999, Jody Lynn Nye, School of Light1 more example
And what actinic, mind-wrenching form could the countermeme take? How could human hands assemble something so devastatingly powerful and hold it steady; what human mind could wield it without exploding from the inside out?
2019 December 9, qntm, “Wild Light”, in There Is No Antimemetics Division, →ISBN, page 191 - not comparablemedicineCaused by extensive exposure to ultraviolet light.
In medicine, actinic keratoses usually occur in sundamaged skin and exhibit hyperkeratosis.
- not comparableartsOf or relating to actinism, the range of photochemical effects produced by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, particularly sunlight.
It should be borne in mind that the actinic power of the sun is subject to considerable variations, due to its elevation above the horizon.
1883, Abraham Cowley Malley, Micro-photography: Including a Description of the Wet Collodion and Gelatino-Bromide Processes, page 321 more example
I got my picture, and it turned out quite a good one, despite the rather poor light which at that time of day, 7 p.m., was lacking in actinic value.
1943 May and June, Chas. S. Lake, “Some Continental Travel Experiences (1922-1939)—III”, in Railway Magazine, page 141 - not comparableComposed of actin.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀκτίς, ἀκτῖν-“ray”
- Englishactinic
From Ancient Greek ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖν- (aktís, aktîn-, “ray”) + -ic.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan actínic
- actínicrelating to actinism
Dutch actinisch
- actinischrelating to actinism
Finnish aktiininen
- aktiininenrelating to actinism
French actinique
- actiniquerelating to actinism
Greek ακτινικός
- ακτινικός (aktinikós)relating to actinism
Irish achtanach
- achtanachrelating to actinism
Italian attinico
- attinicorelating to actinism
Polish aktyniczny
- aktynicznyrelating to actinism
Portuguese actínico
- actínicorelating to actinism
Romanian actinic
- actinicrelating to actinism
Spanish actínico
- actínicorelating to actinism
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with actinic
Cite this entry
actinic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actinic
“actinic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actinic. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “actinic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actinic.
Source: actinic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.