autoionization

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noun

A process by which atoms or molecules spontaneously transition from an electrically neutral state to a lower-energy ionized state

OriginEnglish ionization ← Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

nounautoionization (countable and uncountable, plural autoionizations)

plural autoionizations · alternative autoionisation

  1. countableuncountableA process by which atoms or molecules spontaneously transition from an electrically neutral state to a lower-energy ionized state

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
autodetachment

Origin

  1. Proto-Hellenic*autós
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  3. Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
  4. Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
  5. Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
  6. Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
  7. Englishauto-
  8. Englishionization
  9. Englishautoionization

From auto- + ionization.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Italian autoionizzazione
  • autoionizzazioneTranslations
Polish autojonizacja
  • autojonizacjaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

autoionization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autoionization

MLA

“autoionization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autoionization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autoionization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autoionization.

Source: autoionization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.