Meanings
nounattenuation (countable and uncountable, plural attenuations)
plural attenuations
- countableuncountableA gradual diminishing of strength.
- countableuncountablebiologyA weakening in the virulence of a pathogen or other microorganism.
- countableuncountableengineeringA fabrication process in which a material is stretched out into a thin shape.
- countableuncountablehomeopathyThe reduction of the active principles of medicines to minute doses.
- countableuncountablebeveragesThe proportion of sugar that is converted to ethanol by a yeast.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinattenuātiō“a diminishing”
- Middle Englishattenuacioun
- Englishattenuation
From Middle English attenuacioun, a borrowing from Latin attenuātiō (“a diminishing”). Equivalent to attenuate + -ion.
More words from Middle English, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans verswakking
- verswakkinggradual diminishing in the strength
Bulgarian намаляване, отслабване
- намаляване (namaljavane)gradual diminishing in the strength
- отслабване (otslabvane)gradual diminishing in the strength
- затихване (zatihvane)physics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
Danish svækkelse
- svækkelsegradual diminishing in the strength
Finnish vaimentuminen, heikkeneminen
- vaimentuminengradual diminishing in the strength
- heikkeneminengradual diminishing in the strength
- vaimentuminenphysics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
- vaimennusphysics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
- heikkeneminenbiology: weakening, in the virulence
- suippeneminenbotany: tapering to a fine point
- vetäminenengineering: fabrication process in which a material is stretched out
- laimentaminenhomeopathy: reduction of the active principles of medicines
- laimennushomeopathy: reduction of the active principles of medicines
French atténuation
- atténuationgradual diminishing in the strength
German Verminderung, Attenuation
- Verminderunggradual diminishing in the strength
- Attenuationphysics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
- Dämpfungphysics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
- Attenuierungbiology: weakening, in the virulence
- Abschwächungbiology: weakening, in the virulence
Irish caolú
- caolúgradual diminishing in the strength
Italian attenuazione
- attenuazionegradual diminishing in the strength
Polish tłumienie, atenuacja
- tłumieniegradual diminishing in the strength
- atenuacjabiology: weakening, in the virulence
Portuguese atenuação
- atenuaçãophysics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
Romanian atenuare, diminuare
- atenuaregradual diminishing in the strength
- diminuaregradual diminishing in the strength
Russian ослабле́ние, затуха́ние
- ослабле́ние (oslablénije)gradual diminishing in the strength
- затуха́ние (zatuxánije)physics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
- аттенюа́ция (attɛnjuácija)physics: reduction in the level of some property with distance
Spanish atenuación
- atenuacióngradual diminishing in the strength
Turkish sönüm
- sönümgradual diminishing in the strength
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with attenuation
informationeducationlocationapplicationassociationadministrationorganizationcorporationregistrationAsianfoundationcommunicationpopulationnavigationstationaccommodationoperationpublicationvacationtransportationevaluationimplementationinstallationnation
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
attenuation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/attenuation
MLA
“attenuation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/attenuation. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “attenuation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/attenuation.
Source: attenuation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.