photolithography

noun

pho·​to·​li·​thog·​ra·​phy ˌfō-tō-li-ˈthä-grə-fē 

1

: lithography in which photographically prepared plates are used

2

: a process involving the photographic transfer of a pattern to a surface for etching (as in producing an integrated circuit)

photolithograph

ˌfō-tō-ˈli-thə-ˌgraf 

noun or transitive verb

photolithographic

ˌfō-tō-ˌli-thə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

photolithographically

ˌfō-tō-ˌli-thə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of photolithography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The semiconductor manufacturing process uses forever chemicals at multiple different points of production, including in the crucial photolithography process, which uses light to transfer patterns to the surface of silicon wafers. —Molly Taft, Wired News, 26 Nov. 2025

At present, one of the most delicate steps in making computer chips is photolithography. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025

The performance-per-watt frontier has shifted from photolithography to the atomic layer. —Sundeep Bajikar, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Like other photolithography masks, this is made by etching a pattern using electron-beam lithography. —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2025

All subsectors were also positive, led by photolithography, the Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) ecosystem, and semiconductors. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

One guy, another billionaire who developed this particular photolithography, had just fixed his own roof. —WIRED, 23 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for photolithography

• arteriography
• autobiography
• biogeography
• cholangiography
• cinematography
• historiography
• photomicrography
• ultrasonography
• ventriculography
• angiocardiography
• electrocardiography
• arthrography