London dispersion force

noun

A weak kind of intermolecular force acting between atoms and molecules that are normally electrically symmetric, i.e. having the electrons symmetrically distributed with respect to the nucleus. Such forces are part of the van der Waals forces.

Similar
LDF
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Meanings

nounLondon dispersion force (plural London dispersion forces)

plural London dispersion forces

  1. A weak kind of intermolecular force acting between atoms and molecules that are normally electrically symmetric, i.e. having the electrons symmetrically distributed with respect to the nucleus. Such forces are part of the van der Waals forces.

    Synonyms: LDF

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA weak kind of intermolecular force acting between atoms and molecules that are normally electrically symmetric, i.e. having the electrons symmetrically distributed with respect to the nucleus. Such forces are part of the van der Waals forces.

Similar
LDF

Origin

Named after the German physicist Fritz London.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

London dispersion force. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/London%20dispersion%20force

MLA

“London dispersion force.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/London%20dispersion%20force. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “London dispersion force,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/London%20dispersion%20force.

Source: London dispersion force on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.