polymerization

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UK/ˌpɒl.ɪ.məɹ.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

noun

The chemical process, normally with the aid of a catalyst, to form a polymer by bonding together multiple identical units (monomers).

Similar
polymerisation
Opposite
depolymerization
OriginEnglish polymerize ← Ancient Greek μέρος (méros) ← Proto-Hellenic *(h)méros →
Less commonScrabble 30
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Meanings

nounpolymerization (countable and uncountable, plural polymerizations)

plural polymerizations · alternative polymerisation

  1. countableuncountablechemistryThe chemical process, normally with the aid of a catalyst, to form a polymer by bonding together multiple identical units (monomers).

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
depolymerization

nouna chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound

Similar
polymerisation
Broader
chemical processchemical changechemical action

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  3. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  4. Englishpoly-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*(s)mer-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*(s)méros
  7. Proto-Hellenic*(h)méros
  8. Ancient Greekμέρος (méros)
  9. Englishpolymer
  10. Englishpolymerize
  11. Englishpolymerization

From polymerize + -ation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan polimerització
  • polimeritzacióprocess in which polymers are formed
Czech polymerizace
  • polymerizaceprocess in which polymers are formed
Dutch polymerisatie
  • polymerisatieprocess in which polymers are formed
Finnish polymerisaatio
  • polymerisaatioprocess in which polymers are formed
French polymérisation
  • polymérisationprocess in which polymers are formed
Indonesian polimerisasi
  • polimerisasiprocess in which polymers are formed
Italian polimerizzazione
  • polimerizzazioneprocess in which polymers are formed
Japanese 重合
  • 重合 (jūgō)process in which polymers are formed
Malay pempolimeran
  • pempolimeranprocess in which polymers are formed
Māori whakawaerautanga
  • whakawaerautangaprocess in which polymers are formed
Polish polimeryzacja
  • polimeryzacjaprocess in which polymers are formed
Romanian polimerizare
  • polimerizareprocess in which polymers are formed
Russian полимериза́ция
  • полимериза́ция (polimerizácija)process in which polymers are formed
Spanish polimerización
  • polimerizaciónprocess in which polymers are formed
Ukrainian полімеризація
  • полімеризація (polimeryzacija)process in which polymers are formed
Cite this entry
APA

polymerization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polymerization

MLA

“polymerization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polymerization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polymerization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polymerization.

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