photoinitiator

P3H4O1T1O1I1N1I1T1I1A1T1O1R1

noun

Any substance that initiates a chemical reaction by the absorption of a photon to form an excited state.

OriginEnglish initiator ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounphotoinitiator (plural photoinitiators)

plural photoinitiators

  1. chemistryAny substance that initiates a chemical reaction by the absorption of a photon to form an excited state.

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. Englishinitiator
  9. Englishphotoinitiator

From photo- + initiator.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photoinitiator. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoinitiator

MLA

“photoinitiator.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoinitiator. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photoinitiator,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoinitiator.

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