carbocation

C3A1R1B3O1C3A1T1I1O1N1
/ˌkɑː(ɹ).bəʊˈkæt.aɪ.ən/

noun

Any cation containing an excess positive charge on one or more carbon atoms

OriginEnglish cation ← French carbone ← Latin carbōnem →
RareScrabble 17
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Meanings

nouncarbocation (plural carbocations)

plural carbocations

  1. Any cation containing an excess positive charge on one or more carbon atoms

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kerh₃-der.?
  2. Latincarbōnem
  3. Frenchcarbone
  4. Englishcarbon
  5. Englishcarbo-
  6. Englishcation
  7. Englishcarbocation

From carbo- + cation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Spanish carbocatión
  • carbocatiónTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

carbocation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carbocation

MLA

“carbocation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carbocation. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “carbocation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carbocation.

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