electronegativity

noun

The tendency, or a measure of the ability, of an atom or molecule to attract electrons when forming bonds.

Similar
negativity
OriginEnglish negativity ← Latin electro- ← Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron) →
UncommonScrabble 26
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Meanings

nounelectronegativity (plural electronegativities)

plural electronegativities

  1. chemistryThe tendency, or a measure of the ability, of an atom or molecule to attract electrons when forming bonds.

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(chemistry) the tendency of an atom or radical to attract electrons in the formation of an ionic bond

Similar
negativity
Broader
tendencyinclination
Also see
negativity

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Frenchélectro-
  2. Ancient Greekἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron)
  3. Latinēlectrum
  4. Latinelectro-
  5. Englishelectro-
  6. Englishnegative
  7. Englishnegativity
  8. Englishelectronegativity

From electro- + negativity.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian електроотрицателност
  • електроотрицателност (elektrootricatelnost)degree of electron attraction
Chinese Mandarin 電負性 /电负性
  • 電負性 /电负性 (diànfùxìng)degree of electron attraction
Finnish elektronegatiivisuus
  • elektronegatiivisuusdegree of electron attraction
French électronégativité
  • électronégativitédegree of electron attraction
German Elektronegativität
  • Elektronegativitätdegree of electron attraction
Hungarian elektronegativitás
  • elektronegativitásdegree of electron attraction
Indonesian elektronegativitas
  • elektronegativitasdegree of electron attraction
Irish leictridhiúltacht
  • leictridhiúltachtdegree of electron attraction
Italian elettronegatività
  • elettronegativitàdegree of electron attraction
Japanese 電気陰性度
  • 電気陰性度 (denkiinseido)degree of electron attraction
Korean 전기 음성도
  • 전기 음성도 (jeon'gi eumseongdo)degree of electron attraction
Malay keelektronegatifan
  • keelektronegatifandegree of electron attraction
Māori tōrarotanga hiko
  • tōrarotanga hikodegree of electron attraction
Polish elektroujemność
  • elektroujemnośćdegree of electron attraction
Portuguese eletronegatividade
  • eletronegatividadedegree of electron attraction
Romanian electronegativitate
  • electronegativitatedegree of electron attraction
Russian электроотрицательность
  • электроотрицательность (elektrootricatelʹnostʹ)degree of electron attraction
Spanish electronegatividad
  • electronegatividaddegree of electron attraction
Swedish elektronegativitet
  • elektronegativitetdegree of electron attraction
Tagalog kadagibalingan
  • kadagibalingandegree of electron attraction
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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