stereoisomerism

ste·re·o·i·som·er·is·m
S1T1E1R1E1O1I1S1O1M3E1R1I1S1M3
/ˌstɛɹɪəʊaɪˈsɒməɹɪzəm/

noun

A form of isomerism in which atoms are arranged differently about a chiral centre (or centre of asymmetry). They exhibit optical activity, and in a molecule with a single chiral centre the two isomers (enantiomers) are mirror images of each other whereas in a molecule with multiple chiral centres the isomers (diastereoisomers) are not normally mirror images.

Similar
optical isomerism
OriginEnglish isomerism ← Ancient Greek στερεο- (stereo-) ← Proto-Indo-European *ster- →
UncommonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nounstereoisomerism (countable and uncountable, plural stereoisomerisms)

plural stereoisomerisms

  1. countableuncountablechemistryA form of isomerism in which atoms are arranged differently about a chiral centre (or centre of asymmetry). They exhibit optical activity, and in a molecule with a single chiral centre the two isomers (enantiomers) are mirror images of each other whereas in a molecule with multiple chiral centres the isomers (diastereoisomers) are not normally mirror images.

    Synonyms: optical isomerism

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA form of isomerism in which atoms are arranged differently about a chiral centre (or centre of asymmetry). They exhibit optical activity, and in a molecule with a single chiral centre the two isomers (enantiomers) are mirror images of each other whereas in a molecule with multiple chiral centres the isomers (diastereoisomers) are not normally mirror images.

Similar
optical isomerism
Also see
optical isomerism

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ster-
  2. Ancient Greekστερεός (stereós)
  3. Ancient Greekστερεο- (stereo-)
  4. Englishstereo-
  5. Englishisomer
  6. Englishisomerism
  7. Englishstereoisomerism

From stereo- + isomerism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 立體異構 /立体异构
  • 立體異構 /立体异构 (laap⁶ tai² ji⁶ kau³, lap⁶ tai² ji⁶ gau³)form or isomerism
Chinese Mandarin 立體異構 /立体异构
  • 立體異構 /立体异构 (lìtǐ yìgòu)form or isomerism
Czech stereoizomerie
  • stereoizomerieform or isomerism
Finnish stereoisomeria
  • stereoisomeriaform or isomerism
French stéréoisomérie
  • stéréoisomérieform or isomerism
Greek στερεοϊσομέρεια
  • στερεοϊσομέρεια (stereoïsoméreia)form or isomerism
Italian stereoisomeria
  • stereoisomeriaform or isomerism
Polish stereoizomeria
  • stereoizomeriaform or isomerism
Portuguese estereoisomeria, estereoisomerismo
  • estereoisomeriaform or isomerism
  • estereoisomerismoform or isomerism
Russian стереоизомерия, стереоизомеризм
  • стереоизомерия (stereoizomerija)form or isomerism
  • стереоизомеризм (stereoizomerizm)form or isomerism
Spanish estereoisomería
  • estereoisomeríaform or isomerism
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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