chemiluminescence

noun

chemi·​lu·​mi·​nes·​cence ˌke-mē-ˌlü-mə-ˈne-sᵊn(t)s 

ˌkē-

: luminescence (such as bioluminescence) due to chemical reaction

chemiluminescent

ˌke-mē-ˌlü-mə-ˈne-sᵊnt 

ˌkē-

adjective

Examples of chemiluminescence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For instance, chemiluminescence refers to any chemical process that creates light — whether from a jellyfish or a glow stick. — Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2025

The researchers suggest that these white lights arise due to a combination of heating in the ionosphere due to the surrounding aurora, as well as the chemiluminescence of some other gases in the atmosphere, possibly nitrogen dioxide. — Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025

This is a type of chemiluminescence, which is when light is emitted from a chemical reaction, according to National Geographic. — Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Chemiluminescenz, from chemi- (extracted from chemisch "chemical," from Chemie "chemistry" + -isch -ish, after New Latin chemicus, Medieval Latin chimicus chemic) + Luminescenz luminescence

Note: The term was introduced by the German physicist Elhard Wiedemann (1852-1928) in "Ueber Fluorescenz und Phosphorescenz, I. Abhandlung," Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Neue Folge, Band 34 (1888), pp. 447-48.

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chemiluminescence

• bioluminescence
• immunofluorescence
• photoluminescence
• thermoluminescence
• acquiescence
• adolescence
• coalescence
• convalescence
• effervescence
• efflorescence
• evanescence
• incandescence

Medical Definition

chemiluminescence

noun

che·​mi·​lu·​mi·​nes·​cence ˌkem-i-ˌlü-mə-ˈnes-ᵊn(t)s, ˌkē-mi- 

: luminescence (as bioluminescence) due to chemical reaction usually at low temperatures

chemiluminescent

-ˈnes-ᵊnt 

adjective