photodissociation

noun

The dissociation of a molecule following the absorption of a photon

OriginEnglish dissociation ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
UncommonScrabble 25
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Meanings

nounphotodissociation (countable and uncountable, plural photodissociations)

plural photodissociations

  1. countableuncountablechemistryThe dissociation of a molecule following the absorption of a photon

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishdissociation
  9. Englishphotodissociation

From photo- + dissociation.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photodissociation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photodissociation

MLA

“photodissociation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photodissociation. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photodissociation,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photodissociation.

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